“Remove from them that stubborn pride which imagines itself to be above and beyond criticism. Forgive them the blunders they have committed”, said Rev. Black the Senate Chaplain referring to members of Congress.
On October 7, 2013 Senator Dick Durbin asked for and was granted permission to address the United States Senate for a few minutes regarding the Senate Chaplain’s invocation the other day, which made headlines around the world.
“Mr. President, let me start off by acknowledging an article which appeared in today’s New York Times attributed to the Senate Chaplain, Dr. Barry Black, who led us in prayer to open the Senate’s session. It is entitled “Give Us This Day, Our Daily Senate Scolding,” and it goes on to talk about the prayers which Dr. Black, our Senate Chaplain, has offered during the course of the last week during the government shutdown. They say in the article the morning invocation has turned into a daily conscience check for the 100 men and women of the Senate.”
“The article points out that in the course of one of his prayers Dr. Black said:
Remove from them that stubborn pride which imagines itself to be above and beyond criticism. Forgive them the blunders they have committed.
I can’t match his baritone voice and delivery when it comes to these prayers, but I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record this article as a tribute to our Senate Chaplain who has been given the awesome responsibility to prove the power of prayer during the midst of a government shutdown”, said Senator Durbin (source: Congressional Record http://thomas.loc.gov).
Barry C. Black (born November 1, 1948) is the 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate.
The Chaplain of the United States Senate opens each session of the United States Senate with a prayer, and provides and coordinates religious programs and pastoral care support for Senators, their staffs, and their families.
The Chaplain is appointed by a majority vote of the members of the Senate on a resolution nominating an individual for this highly paid position.