Why is there a prayer before the Congress starts...

[amyrose2712]

I didn'tjust learn of this...but I just heard it. :puke: :puke: :puke:

[FiveGoodMen]

1. It's utterly disgusting.

Clearly a violation of the spirit of the 1st Amendment's Establishment Clause.

Plus, it's just plain childish and barbaric to think there's a god out there doing one country special favors and helping that bunch destroy or dominate all of the others.

[amyrose2712]

4. God Bless A Mur Ca...

[trotsky]

2. It's a ridiculous and blatantly unconstitutional practice.

However, if you bring it up even the most liberal and pro-church-state-separation Christian will tell you "It's tradition!" and then label you a militant fundie atheist.

[yellerpup]

3. During our brief stay down south

where the first question we were asked was, "What church do y'all go to?" we went to meetings of local Dems hoping to make friends or at least meet intellectuals who understand the separation of church and state EVERY meeting began and closed with prayer. We refused to "pray", bow our heads, etc., and complained of the practice afterwards. We didn't make any close friends doing that and we didn't last two years down there, either.

[onager]

5. This should really piss you off. It does me...

......The House chaplain earns $139,000 per year, and the Senate chaplain's salary is $122,400....

Senate chaplains have represented eight Denominations: Episcopalian (19), Methodist (17), Presbyterian (14), Baptist (6), Unitarian (2), Congregationalist (1), Lutheran (1), and Roman Catholic (1).

Hmmm. All those Official Congressional Witch-Doctors seem to have something in common. Now what could it be...

There have been critics over the years who have charged the practice of official chaplains violates the concept of separation of church and state. In 1983, the Supreme Court upheld the practice of having an official chaplain as deeply ingrained in the history and tradition of this country.

Which neatly dodged the whole Constitutional issue.

They stated the ultimate authority for the position lies in the Constitution which states that the House and Senate may each choose their officers, with no restrictions on what kind of officers may be chosen. Using that authority, both chambers have chosen to continue to elect an officer to act as Chaplain.

Weasel-words. "Officer" should mean a person who actually does something, like the Sergeant-at-Arms or the clerks. Not an Official Congressional God-Botherer.



http://www.c-span.org/questions/weekly21.asp

[and-justice-for-all]

6. Because there should not be...

it is a blatant violation of the Constitution for them to do that.