So the Supreme Court has said that a little town council in upstate New York can start its meetings with a prayer — even if it's the Jesus-y kind. What?
We cats must have missed something. We had no idea that this Town of Greece v. Galloway case had even reached the Supremes, so obviously we've been out of the loop and are very bad bloggers. But now that Alito, Thomas, et. al. have decreed that anybody is welcome to pray before a civic meeting, we hope that communities across the country are simply deluged with Jews, atheists, Hindus, Muslims and Scientologists, all clamoring to have their say.
It's kinda ironic, when you consider that both houses of Congress have traditionally kicked off their sessions with an appeal to a Higher Power. And sure, the Chaplains of the Senate have become a bit more diverse lately, but all have been Christian. We're waiting for somebody to nominate Bishop Gene Robinson next time around. Now, that would be fun.
We point out this unhelpful fact not because we have a magic solution to the wrangling over the separation of church and state — particularly in the age of John Roberts — but because former chaplains can be interesting to revisit.
Consider Peter Marshall (no, not the game-show host), who had the dubious honor of serving as Senate Chaplain during the do-nothing Eightieth Congress. (Which now couldn't hold a candle to the ultra-do-nothing 112th.) And although he wasn't a political animal, Marshall did manage to slip some choice nuggets into his daily prayers. Here's a small sample:
"If there be any here sulking as children will, deal with and enlighten them. Make it day about that person, so that he shall see himself and be ashamed."
"Forgive, O Lord, our failure to apply to ourselves the standards of conduct we demand of others."
"Ever sensitive to the hurting of our own feelings, may we be sensitive also to our grieving of Thy Holy Spirit when we give ourselves to the lesser loyalties and spend our time and our energies in that which is less than the highest and the best."
"Save these, Thy servants, the chosen of the people, from the tyranny of the nonessential, from the weary round of that which saps strength, frays nerves, shortens life, and adds nothing to their usefulness to Thee and to this Nation."
"Let us be tolerant of the thoughts of others, for we never know in what voice Thou wilt speak."
"Bridle our tongues lest they stampede us into utterances of which, later, we shall be ashamed."
"In our choices let us not ask, 'Will it work?' but rather, 'Is it right?'"
Can you imagine what Dr. Marshall would say about Republicans who disdain the poor, diss women, hate immigrants, insult the President, blow racist dog whistles, and vote to repeal Obamacare a thousand times? We cats PURR.
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