Hindu Chaplain Prays to Nearly Empty Senate

Nathan Burchfiel/TN : Jul 13, 2007
CNS News

Though it was the first time a Hindu was invited to conduct a Senate invocation, the tradition of having a Christian lead the prayer was actually broken during the previous administration, when a Muslim delivered the prayer in 1993.

(Washington, DC)—Rajan Zed, the first Hindu chaplain to open the Senate with prayer, did so to a nearly empty Senate chamber this week. According to a Cybercast News Service (CNS) report, the only officials present were Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid—who, keeping a statue of Gandhi in his office, encouraged colleagues to "think of Gandhi"—and Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma. Reid sponsored Zed's request to lead the invocation and Inhofe was present to deliver a speech moments later on the Fairness Doctrine. (Photo: Rajan Zed–CNS)

In addition to the two senators, three Christian protestors were removed from the U.S. Senate chamber's observation gallery.

Though it was the first time a Hindu was invited to conduct a Senate invocation, the tradition of having a Christian lead the prayer was actually broken during the previous administration, when a Muslim delivered the prayer in 1993.

According to a July 12, Christian Newswire report, Former Navy Chaplain Gordon James Klingenschmitt who is known for praying "in Jesus Name," was recently denied permission to pray in the Senate by the Senate Majority Leader and another prominent senator.