Senate chaplain delivers fiery prayers during government shutdown

Every time there is a government shutdown, I turn to an unconventional barometer to understand the depth of the impasse.

I always observe the first moments of the Senate session.

Logical, right?

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Any congressional reporter worth their salt would surely want to hear the thoughts of Senate majority and minority leaders to understand where things stand with the shutdown.

But I’m listening to someone who has his finger on the pulse of the Senate. They may not be as highly ranked as Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., or Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. But they have a direct line to someone who surpasses everyone else.

I listen to the opening prayer of the Senate delivered by Senate Chaplain Barry Black.

“On this third day of the government shutdown, inspire them to work for your glory in all they think, say and do,” Black prayed at the October 3 Senate opening. “Equip our senators for their task.”

Senate Chaplain Barry Black’s prayers are a great indicator of progress being made during government shutdowns. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Black is a parliamentary pastor who offers ecumenical intercessions seeking closure.

The shutdown standoff has deepened since Black’s initial invocation more than three weeks ago. But after days of political posturing and inaction from congressional secularists, Black launched into his Senate flock on Monday.

“When our children and grandchildren want to know what we were doing in the 119th Congress during the infamous shutdown, may we not have to give these answers: ‘I helped set a new record for maintaining the government shutdown. I failed to appeal to the better angels of my nature. I forgot Matthew 7:12, which says, Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,'” Black prayed.

“Lord, remind our legislators that no gold medal is awarded for breaking closure records. But a crown of righteousness is given to those who care for the lost, last of all.”

Black’s blistering sermons from the Senate pulpit are canon in times of crisis. He offered similar prayers during the long government shutdowns of 2013 and 2018-19.

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“Enough is enough,” Black prayed during the 2013 shutdown, after death payments to families of fallen U.S. soldiers stopped. “Cover our shame with the cloak of your righteousness.”

After U.S. Capitol Police officers were injured following a high-speed chase and shooting at the Capitol — while not being paid amid that shutdown — Black rebuked lawmakers in his prayer.

“Deliver us from the hypocrisy of trying to appear reasonable while being unreasonable,” Black prayed.

Black says his prayers are to God. But his position in the Senate gives him a special status. Not all pastors enjoy the benefit (or pressure) of an audience of 100 senators. That’s to say nothing of those watching across the country on C-Span.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., disparaged the president, calling him a “cold and heartless individual.” (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Black was blunt in his speech Tuesday.

“Lord, use our legislators to help end this government shutdown, increase their faith, hope and love, enabling them to turn cacophony into concord,” he prayed.

As of the 29th day of the government shutdown, it was unclear whether Black’s petitions were reaching lawmakers. Tensions rose at the Capitol as members clashed in fits of anger.

“Selfish, mean, vicious bull!” Schumer shouted, denigrating the president, calling him a “cold and heartless individual.”

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Lawmakers sprinkled salty language into their rhetoric.

“We need five Democratic senators to pull their heads out of their asses,” implored House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla.

“I have this damn status,” bellowed Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the Appropriations Committee. She called on the Trump administration to release a contingency fund to finance SNAP benefits.

“The money is there. Go get it, God,” DeLauro fumed.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., was one of several lawmakers to desecrate their rhetoric. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

The usually genial Thune excoriated Democrats in a heated exchange on SNAP.

“This is not a political game! We are talking about the lives of real people!” thundered Thune. “And you all just understood that 29 days of stay could have consequences? That people would run out of money?”

That said — or shouted — Thune has long told Democrats that he’s ready to engage them on their health care demands.

But with a caveat.

“You want to talk about health care? Open up the government. Let’s do it,” Thune said.

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At least one Democrat is willing to accept this offer.

“I think what is a very fair deal is to open up the government and vote on extending these bonuses for a year or more,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., said on Fox.

But Democrats insist they are not conceding.

“There is no crack on the Democratic side,” said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.

Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., appears ready to strike a deal to open up the government. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Jeffries blasted President Trump for refusing to negotiate to end the shutdown — while the president was in Asia.

“Donald Trump spent more time talking with Hamas and the Chinese Communist Party than he did with Democrats on Capitol Hill to end the Trump shutdown,” the New York Democrat said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., is exasperated with Democratic brass.

“I gave up leadership,” Johnson said. “So we’re trying to appeal to a handful of moderates or centrists who care more about the American people.”

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Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, Democrat of Nevada, is one of three senators associated with Democrats who have repeatedly voted to defund the government. We are discussing what will need to be done to stop the closure. But the discussions are informal.

“I think there’s an opportunity for us to come together, open government and address the looming health care crisis,” Cortez Masto told Fox Business’ Chase Williams.

“There is a desire among senators on both sides to do something. But the leadership is getting in the way. And the one person who should be at the table isn’t. That’s Donald Trump. Because President Johnson and Leader Thune won’t do anything unless he tells them and tells them what to do.”

Several lawmakers are predicting what will force them to reopen the government.

Sen. Bernie Moreno, Republican of Ohio, suggests Veterans Day is likely a “D-Day,” adding: “That’s when you’re going to break the system.” » (Julia Bonavita/Fox News Digital)

“I think Veterans Day is probably the day,” said Sen. Bernie Moreno, Republican of Ohio. “And that’s when you’re going to break the system.”

“I think it’s going to happen next week,” predicted Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.

“For what?” yours really asked.

“Simply because the carnage is piling up and Democrats are being hurt more than helped,” Graham responded.

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It’s unclear whether this requires lawmakers to reopen the government. There is now pressure in the air – and on the ground – to reopen the government. Several airlines and the Teamsters demanded that Congress pass the Republican Party’s bill to fund the government.

To echo Graham’s point, next week represents the most significant inflection point in the shutdown to date, which could potentially force upcoming legislators. SNAP benefits are running out. A second missed paycheck. Worry about the airlines. This is an “opportunity”. But only that. These “opportunities” will soon multiply.

Barry Black will likely continue his daily pleas to end the shutdown. And only the Almighty knows when the shutdown will end.

But until then, federal government operations are moving slowly.

On one wing. And a prayer.