April 3, 2000
Controversy over House chaplain
ends with appointment of Catholic
___WASHINGTON (RNS)--House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., appointed a Catholic priest from Chicago as the new House chaplain March 23, simultaneously making House history and attempting to end a months-long controversy on Capitol Hill.
___Daniel Coughlin, vicar for priests of the Chicago archdiocese, was sworn in on the House floor shortly after Hastert announced his decision.
___"Daniel Coughlin is a Catholic," Hastert said on the House floor. "That does not make him more nor less qualified for the job. But I am proud of his historic appointment. And I hope his appointment will help us heal."
___Coughlin, 65, succeeds James Ford, a Lutheran who retired after serving in the post since 1979. Coughlin is the first Catholic House chaplain.
___Coughlin has served on numerous committees dealing with prayer, spirituality and liturgical renewal and contributed to a document produced by the National Conference of Catholic Bishops called "The Spiritual Renewal of the American Priesthood."
___Charles Wright, a Presbyterian Church (USA) minister who was the previous nominee for the position, wrote a letter to Hastert March 22 "regrettably" withdrawing his name from the process.
___"In these weeks following my appointment, anti-religious charges of the selection process caused dissension among the members and wounds between Catholics and other people of faith across our nation," Wright wrote. "I humbly ask that members put aside any misuse of religion for political advantage."
___Hastert, in lengthy remarks on the floor, voiced his anger at the charges by some that Wright's selection as a nominee over Catholic priest Timothy O'Brien reflected anti-Catholic bias. He said he waited four months hoping Wright could be given an affirmative vote by the House.
___"Sadly, it has become clear to me that the minority will never support Charles Wright to be the House chaplain," Hastert said. "Instead of hearing the positive voice of a godly and caring man, the only voices we hear are whispered hints in dark places that his selection is the result of anti-Catholic bias."
___Observers from a variety of circles commended Hastert, who defused of the controversy with his appointment.
___The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, which had issued more than a dozen statements questioning why Wright had been nominated over O'Brien, was among those welcoming the decision.
___"We raised many questions about the treatment of Father Timothy O'Brien in the selection process and were dismayed by the way the Republicans handled this matter," said Catholic League President William Donohue. "But we have no interest in fighting this fight any longer, and we commend House Speaker Dennis Hastert for bringing this chapter to an end."
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