Speaker's Guest

Watching the opening session of the new Congress, which has just started. Of course, all sessions of both houses begin with a prayer.

In case you didn't know, for the first time in history, in 2000 a Catholic priest -- Fr Daniel Coughlin of the archdiocese of Chicago -- was named chaplain of the House. He just led his prayer.

Even more interesting: at the invitation of Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi, who drops the "-elect" bit within the half-hour, Fr Stephen Privett SJ, president of the University of San Francisco, then mounted the rostrum to offer another prayer.

Fascinating.... Just thought some of you'd like to know.


PHOTO: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst

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