The following story came to my attention through Rachel Maddow’s email blast entitled “This Week in God.” It involves an interesting controversy with the chaplains who serve the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. It should be noted that these two religious leaders receive salaries paid by U.S. taxpayers. I hardly ever give the Congressional chaplains the time of day unless I catch them by chance on C-Span at the opening of a session. But this week, the chaplains raised questions about how they intend to spend today, Inauguration Day, in a story that first ran on a website entitled Faithful America.
Just before President Obama takes the ceremonial oath of office at noon today, a group of religious conservatives will hold a prayer breakfast featuring a number of anti-Obama supporters. The Presidential Inaugural Prayer Breakfast -- billed as offering "prayer, worship, and reconciliation of the nation" -- will feature the editor of the birther site WorldNetDaily and minister and media mogul Pat Robertson, according its website. The organizers of the prayer breakfast also claim the House and Senate chaplains will speak at their event -- appearances that may conflict with the non-partisan nature of the chaplain job. By the way, did any of you receive an invitation to attend the breakfast? I checked by mailbox again this morning in the hopes that perhaps my invite had come late – but to no avail.
House Chaplain Rev. Patrick Conroy and Senate Chaplain Barry Black are listed under the "Prayer for the Nation" portion of today’s event, just ahead of Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). But featured speaker Joseph Farah, the WorldNetDaily editor, has drawn the most attention, given his website's regular assertions that President Obama was actually born in Kenya and allegations that he is "the first Muslim president." The event also features "messianic rabbi-pastor and author" Jonathan Cahn, who believes that there are signs of the apocalypse encrypted in Obama's communications. Are you kidding me? Really? Does this stuff really exist? Sadly so.
Now look, I am not against folks gathering to pray, even if their theological, spiritual or political stance is in complete opposite to mine. But, when taxpayer-financed chaplains, who are not supposed to take sides in political fights, participate in events like these, it's far more problematic. Why does prayer have to be politicized for personal gain? Why can’t the leaders of the Church simply gather for prayer and ask the Lord to bless all the leaders of our Nation?
Here are two prayers taken from The Book of Common Prayer that I suggest should be offered for our Nation and President on this Inauguration Day.
Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to thy law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, suffer not our trust in thee to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
O Lord our Governor, whose glory is in all the world: We commend this nation to thy merciful care, that, being guided by thy Providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant to the President of the United States, and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in thy fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
Love One Another - Brian
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