[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 57 (Wednesday, April 21, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2733-H2737]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING REVEREND DANIEL P. COUGHLIN ON 10TH YEAR OF SERVICE AS 
                             HOUSE CHAPLAIN

  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1216) congratulating Reverend Daniel P. 
Coughlin on his 10th year of service as Chaplain of the House of 
Representatives.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1216

       Whereas Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin has served honorably 
     and faithfully as Chaplain of the House of Representatives 
     since being sworn in as the 59th Chaplain on March 23, 2000;
       Whereas Reverend Coughlin was born on November 8, 1934, in 
     Chicago, Illinois;
       Whereas Reverend Coughlin graduated from St. Mary of the 
     Lake University in Mundelein, Illinois, becoming a Licentiate 
     of Sacred Theology in 1960, and from Loyola University in 
     Chicago, Illinois, with a degree in Pastoral Studies in 1968;
       Whereas Reverend Coughlin was ordained for the Archdiocese 
     of Chicago on May 3, 1960;
       Whereas Reverend Coughlin was appointed the first Director 
     of the Office for Divine Worship for the Archdiocese of 
     Chicago;
       Whereas Reverend Coughlin spent a year-long sabbatical in 
     residence with the Trappist monks of the Abbey of Gethsemani 
     in Kentucky, and served the poor through the Missionaries of 
     Charity in Calcutta, India, in 1984;
       Whereas Reverend Coughlin served as scholar-in-residence at 
     North American College in Vatican City;
       Whereas Reverend Coughlin was pastor at St. Francis Xavier 
     Parish in La Grange, Illinois, from 1985 through 1990;
       Whereas Reverend Coughlin worked as Vicar for Priests of 
     the Archdiocese of Chicago under both Joseph Cardinal 
     Bernardin and Francis Cardinal George from 1995 through 2000;
       Whereas the Office of the Chaplain of the House of 
     Representatives has served the House since May 1, 1789;
       Whereas Reverend Coughlin is the first person of Roman 
     Catholic faith to hold the Office of Chaplain of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       Whereas Reverend Coughlin opens proceedings in the House of 
     Representatives with prayer, and additionally provides 
     pastoral counseling and arranges memorial services for the 
     House and its staff: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives congratulates 
     Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin on his 10th year of faithful 
     service as Chaplain of the House of Representatives.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano) and the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Daniel E. Lungren) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Massachusetts.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
to include extraneous matter on House Resolution 1216.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Massachusetts?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CAPUANO. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution recognizes the Reverend Daniel Coughlin. 
Where is he?
  Come on, Father. Come on up if you're watching. We want to see you.
  This resolution recognizes the service of Rev. Daniel P. Coughlin as 
the Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives.
  Rev. Coughlin was sworn in as the 59th Chaplain of the House of 
Representatives on March 23 of the year 2000. The passing of that date 
this year marked a decade of providing spiritual counseling and prayer 
to both Members and staff. Rev. Coughlin follows in a tradition that 
has served this House since May 1, 1789, when Rev. William Linn was 
elected Chaplain of the House.
  I urge all Members to support this resolution and to support Father 
Coughlin.
  I would like to mention that Father Coughlin is the first Roman 
Catholic to serve this House, and as not necessarily the best Roman 
Catholic in the world, I will tell you that I have the deepest 
appreciation for what Father Coughlin has done for this House as our 
Chaplain, as a friend and also in service to this country. I've had 
many personal discussions with him, and I will tell you, in my opinion, 
if more of our religious leaders had the same demeanor, the same 
personality, the same openheartedness, the same attempt to understand 
the differences between us, and the same obvious willingness to forgive 
our differences and our difficulties, I think this world would be a 
much better place.
  I will tell you that I not only want to congratulate him on his 10 
years, but I also want to personally thank him for the many services 
rendered to so many Members of this House and for his ability to stand 
in such an esteemed position and to earn the respect of the Members 
here.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join others in expressing our support 
for House Resolution 1216, congratulating our Chaplain, the Reverend 
Daniel Coughlin, on his 10th year of distinguished service to the 
United States House of Representatives. I think the only thing Father 
Coughlin is going to be upset about is that we're going to reveal his 
age here on the floor today.
  Since the very first Congress, Members of the House have benefited 
from the services of chaplains and ministers. Throughout history, they 
have helped all of us, the individuals serving in the Congress. They 
have helped us navigate our responsibilities to the American people, 
and they have aided us in our quest to integrate faith and reason in 
our execution of the law.
  As has been mentioned, Father Coughlin is the first Roman Catholic 
House Chaplain. Following after the Reverend James Ford, Father 
Coughlin has diligently, humbly, compassionately, and intelligently 
served this House, its Members, our families, and this Nation.
  Born during the Great Depression, Father Coughlin has a prestigious 
record, one that demonstrates his deep desire to heal a broken society. 
A graduate of St. Mary of the Lake University in Illinois, he was 
ordained for the Archdiocese of Chicago in the spring of 1960. In 
addition to serving as a pastor and as a director in various offices 
within the Chicago diocese, Father Coughlin has studied world 
religions, has lived with Trappist monks, has

[[Page H2734]]

worked with the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, and has 
served as scholar-in-residence at the North American College in Rome.
  We wouldn't ask him which of those he enjoyed the most and whether it 
was more difficult working among the Members of Congress or living with 
the Trappist monks. As a matter of fact, I recall that no one has ever 
compared us to the Trappist monks.
  In March 2000, he was sworn in during the 106th Congress as the 59th 
Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives.
  Mr. Speaker, as you can see, Father Coughlin has brought a wealth of 
experience, education, and discernment to this House. We have all 
benefited from his wisdom, from his patience, and from his kindness. We 
are right to honor the 10 years of service that Father Coughlin has 
given us thus far, and I believe that we all wish him many more days 
with us as we deliberate in the people's body of this soft-governing 
Republic. There is no doubt we need his help.
  I thank the sponsor of the resolution, Congressman Lipinski, and I 
thank the chairman of our subcommittee for bringing this resolution to 
the floor.
  I would urge my colleagues to vote in support of this resolution. 
Hopefully, we will get a unanimous vote.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to my friend, the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak).
  Mr. STUPAK. I thank the gentleman for yielding as it is an honor for 
me to join my colleagues in honoring Father Daniel Coughlin on his 50th 
year in the priesthood and 10 years as our House Chaplain.

                              {time}  1130

  Father Daniel Coughlin was honored last weekend by the Archdiocese of 
Chicago marking 50 years since his ordination, the last 10 years of 
which he has served as Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives. I 
am pleased to join as a cosponsor with Mr. Lipinski and the rest of my 
colleagues in the House to recognize Father Coughlin on this 
achievement.
  Father Daniel Coughlin is the first Roman Catholic House Chaplain 
since the position was created in 1774. He was ordained for the 
Archdiocese of Chicago on May 3, 1960, and for the next 5 years served 
as an associate pastor for St. Raymond Parish in Mount Prospect, 
Illinois, before becoming an associate pastor at Chicago's Holy Name 
Cathedral. In 1969, he was appointed as the first director of the 
Archdiocese's Office for Divine Worship.
  In 1984, Father Coughlin took a year-long sabbatical, as my 
colleagues have noted, which sent him to serve with the Trappist monks 
in Kentucky, counsel the poor in Calcutta, and serve as a scholar-in-
residence at North American College in Vatican City in Rome.
  Following his sabbatical, Father Coughlin served as pastor of St. 
Francis Xavier Parish in La Grange, Illinois, and became Director of 
the Cardinal Stritch Retreat House in Mundelein, Illinois. Father 
Coughlin worked as Vicar for Priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago 
under both Cardinal Bernardin and Cardinal George, a position he held 
until he became House Chaplain.
  When former Speaker Dennis Hastert looked to Cardinal George as he 
searched for the next House Chaplain, one of the names that Cardinal 
George kept mentioning was Father Coughlin. First interviewed on March 
13, 2000, Father Coughlin was sworn in just 10 days later.
  Just as there were those who questioned whether President Kennedy, as 
the Nation's first Catholic President, could govern without forcing his 
Catholicism on the Nation, there were those who questioned whether a 
Catholic Chaplain could appropriately serve the House. Father Coughlin 
has proven through his counsel of Members and the staff of many 
different faiths and varying degrees of spirituality that those 
concerns were and are unfounded. Many have benefited from his 
ecumenical approach as House Chaplain. Father Coughlin goes beyond the 
requirements of House Chaplain to make sure the spiritual needs of all 
Members, regardless of their faith, are met.
  In addition to the Members of this Chamber, Father Coughlin has 
provided support to countless House Members, their staffs, and families 
during their time of need. In fact, right after Father Coughlin was 
sworn in as the House Chaplain, unfortunately, I lost my son, and 
Father Coughlin, who really didn't know me or my son that well, 
certainly provided great comfort to us in a great time of distress for 
us. And a few years ago, my Chief of Staff's mother was battling 
cancer, which took a toll on him and their family. Father Coughlin not 
only kept Scott and his mother, Pat, in his prayers but went above and 
beyond that, often writing heartfelt notes to both of them. Neither of 
them Catholic, the gesture from Father Coughlin meant a great deal to 
Pat in her final days and still means a great deal to Scott to this 
day.
  Father Coughlin has offered insightful counsel to Members of this 
Chamber through some of the most difficult events in our recent 
history. He has provided spiritual guidance to those who sought it as 
they grappled with some of the biggest issues facing our country.
  Therefore, I am pleased to join my colleagues today in supporting 
this resolution to honor the contributions and service of Father Daniel 
Coughlin as House Chaplain, as a spiritual leader, and congratulate him 
on his 50 years of service to the church and to the members who make up 
the church.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, now it is my 
pleasure to yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Sensenbrenner), a distinguished Episcopalian Member of this House who 
is also a heartfelt friend and admirer of Father Coughlin.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and I rise in 
support of this resolution.
  A lot of times people come to Members of Congress saying, Why do you 
need to have a Chaplain? And I tell them that we need to have a 
Chaplain here because of the tremendous pressures that are put on 
Members of Congress and their families, whether it's politically, 
whether it's spiritually, whether we have family crises and things like 
that, and in order to keep the Members of Congress grounded so that 
they can better discharge their duties, we need to have someone to talk 
to and to counsel us from a spiritual standpoint.
  Father Dan Coughlin has done that for the last 10 years. He is the 
first Roman Catholic priest who has been named as a Chaplain to the 
House of Representatives, and there was a lot of chatter about that at 
the time, but I would just remind everybody that most of his 
predecessors as Chaplain were ordained in specific non-Roman Catholic 
denominations and they had the same job in dealing with Members of all 
faiths, and sometimes even no faith at all, and their families when 
times of crises came, whether it be a personal crisis or a political 
crisis. And I think that in the last 10 years, a tribute to Father 
Coughlin's immense talents is the fact that he is universally respected 
in this House of Representatives and beyond. And I can say personally 
that I think I am a better person for having known Father Coughlin and 
having been counseled by him.
  Father Coughlin also is respected in his home diocese in Chicago. 
Last Saturday my wife, Cheryl, and I accepted his invitation to join 
him and others at a mass celebrating the 50th anniversary of his 
ordination to the priesthood. There were many priests celebrating with 
him, the church was filled, and it was an extremely moving 
demonstration of the respect that Father Coughlin has both with his 
colleagues as priests in Chicago as well as the laity that did show up 
to fill the chapel at the Archbishop Quigley Center. Cardinal Francis 
George, who is Father Coughlin's ecclesiastical boss, showed up during 
the reception, and I think that his presence there also is a tribute to 
the fact that Father Coughlin had done a very, very good job in Chicago 
before he was plucked by former Speaker Hastert to become our Chaplain 
of the House of Representatives.
  All that being said, this House is in Father Coughlin's debt for the 
work that he has done with us as an institution, has done with us as 
individuals, regardless of what our faith is, and has done with our 
families in helping keep our personal lives as well as our official 
lives in a proper perspective. We are much in debt to Father Coughlin 
for

[[Page H2735]]

that, and I hope he is with us for many more years, rather than days, 
to come.
  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the author of the 
resolution, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski).
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this 
resolution congratulating and thanking the Reverend Daniel P. Coughlin 
for his 10 years of service as Chaplain of the House of 
Representatives.
  For the past decade, Father Coughlin has admirably fulfilled his 
duties as Chaplain, blessing this Chamber with his thoughtful, eloquent 
prayers, conducting prayer meetings and spiritual exercises, and, most 
importantly, fortifying Members, their families, and congressional 
staff with his wise and generous counsel.
  March 23 marked the 10th anniversary of Father Coughlin's swearing in 
as the 59th Chaplain of the House of Representatives and, most 
importantly, as some of my colleagues have mentioned, the first 
Catholic to hold this position. If you look back to the day that Father 
Coughlin assumed office, Pope John Paul II was visiting Israel for the 
first time. Gas was under $2 a gallon. And a certain attorney from the 
South Side of Chicago, the newspapers were just reporting on his bid, 
unsuccessfully, to join this body. It was indeed a long time ago and a 
lot has changed in those 10 years, but through it all Father Coughlin 
has responded to the demands of history, tradition, and faith with 
great devotion.
  As many residents of my district in the Chicago region know, Father 
Coughlin's service dates back far beyond what he has rendered here over 
the past decade. In fact, just this past Saturday, as Representative 
Sensenbrenner was just mentioning, I also had the opportunity, with my 
wife, Judy, to be a part of the celebration of Father Coughlin's 50th 
anniversary as a Catholic priest.
  Father Coughlin grew up on the North Side of Chicago and knew from a 
young age he would become a priest. He received degrees from St. Mary 
of the Lake University and Loyola University.
  He was a parish priest before he was named the first Director of the 
Office of Divine Worship in the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1969. His 
time during his year-long sabbatical, spending 5 months at a Trappist 
monastery in Kentucky, serving the poor in India, and serving as 
scholar-in-residence at North American College in Vatican City really 
shows the breadth and the depth of Father Coughlin's abilities. Upon 
his return, he spent 5 years as pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish in 
La Grange in my district. I know that he is much beloved at his parish 
at St. Francis. I hear about it very often from many of my constituents 
and friends. Following this, he became Vicar for Priests in the 
Archdiocese of Chicago.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has expired.
  Mr. CAPUANO. I yield 1 more minute to the gentleman.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. After 4 decades of service, Father Coughlin was 
appointed House Chaplain by Illinois' own former Speaker, Dennis 
Hastert, on the recommendation of Cardinal Francis George. In 
announcing his choice, former Speaker Hastert predicted that ``Daniel 
Coughlin will bring to the House a caring and healing heart.'' The past 
10 years has shown that he was undoubtedly correct. I know this from my 
own time in the House, having seen and experienced this. My own 
experiences with Father Coughlin range from the opportunity I had with 
him 5 years ago this week in Rome to be a part of the inauguration of 
Pope Benedict XVI and also the many conversations I have had with 
Father Coughlin on what is currently happening in Chicago, including 
how his ageless mother and her Chicago Cubs are doing. I think this 
connection, being a Catholic from Chicago, has really especially made 
our relationship close over these 5-plus years I have been in the 
House.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentleman has again expired.
  Mr. CAPUANO. I yield 1 more minute to the gentleman.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, Father Coughlin's devotion to his faith 
and spiritual welfare of his fellow men and women is an inspiration. I 
urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes 
to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry).
  Mr. FORTENBERRY. Father Dan, I am glad to see that you have been able 
to join us, and I thank the gentleman for the time.
  Mr. Speaker, I am also pleased to rise today to pay tribute to our 
Chaplain, Father Dan Coughlin, whom we honor today in his 10th year of 
service as House Chaplain and as its 59th Chaplain. On this occasion, I 
also wish to express my personal deep appreciation for Father 
Coughlin's steadfast support and wise counsel.
  Public service in its essence demands much from those called to 
responsibility for the future of our Nation. It presents many weighty 
challenges that call upon Members of Congress to live out the 
transcendent principles that mark the immutable character of our great 
republic.
  Father Dan works tirelessly to focus our attention on the values that 
actually do unite us at a time when so many forces seek to divide us. 
He challenges us to animate our drive for truth with compassion and to 
fortify our quest for compassion with truth. Members and staff have 
come to rely upon his insight, his openness, his unique ability to lead 
people of all faith traditions to thought-provoking introspection, 
based upon a lifetime dedicated to understanding the profound 
motivations of the human heart.
  Called upon so often to help us and our families shoulder the burdens 
of state at discordant times in our history and particularly given the 
challenging time in the history of our world now, Father Coughlin 
exemplifies what it means to be a selfless servant and a true 
peacemaker. We are indeed fortunate for the grace of his presence among 
us, and it is an honor and privilege to acknowledge his 10 years of 
service to this institution.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to close by reading an excerpt of the 
prayer that Father Coughlin delivered on September 12, 2001, which I do 
believe remains as relevant today as it was then.
  ``Send forth Your Holy Spirit, Lord, upon all Members of Congress, 
the President, and all government leaders across this Nation. Free them 
of fear, any prejudice whatsoever, remove all doubt and confusion from 
their minds. With clear insight which comes from You and You alone, 
reveal all that is unholy and renew the desire of Your people to live 
lives of deepening faith, unbounding commitment, and lasting freedom 
here where liberty has made her home.
  ``We place our trust in You now and forever. Amen.''
  Thank you, Father Coughlin, for your outstanding service.

                              {time}  1145

  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield 1 minute to the 
Speaker of the House, the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi).
  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding and thank 
him and Mr. Lungren for bringing this important resolution to the 
floor. It is indeed a joy for us to salute our friend, our Chaplain, 
but our friend, Father Coughlin.
  I am rarely in awe of anybody's opportunity. As the Speaker of the 
House, I am afforded many. But when Mr. Sensenbrenner said that he and 
his wife Cheryl were present at the 50th anniversary of Father's 
ordination as a priest, I was frankly jealous. What a great honor for 
you to be there. What a great honor for Father Coughlin that you were 
there. And Mr. Lipinski, the maker of this motion, he was there as 
well. So we were proud to be represented in a bipartisan way at that 
celebration. And it was a reflection of the esteem that we all have for 
Father Coughlin in this House.
  Father Coughlin has told me with great pride--now, not usually a 
proud man, usually a humble man--with great pride that 35 priests 
concelebrated the Mass that celebrated Father Coughlin's 50th 
anniversary of his celebration. How proud we all are of you.
  But the proudest person in the world is Father's mother Lucille, 95 
years old. To see her precious son 50 years a priest of the church, for 
10 years the Chaplain of this House of Representatives, the first 
Catholic. It's really a remarkable achievement.

[[Page H2736]]

  Every day of those 10 years when Father has opened the House with a 
prayer we have all listened attentively because we know that we will be 
guided well, that he will be our anchor, he will inspire us with words 
that reflect the values of faith and country.
  His particular strength I believe springs from a sense of humility 
that he conveys. After his ordination, he spent time at a Trappist 
monastery in Kentucky, building strength and his religion and his 
faith. He spent time working among the poor in Calcutta, India, again 
living his faith.
  St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of my City of San Francisco, 
has said, ``Preach the Gospel. Sometimes use words.'' While using words 
or deeds, Father Coughlin has been preaching the Gospel for these many 
decades. And we have been blessed that his path has crossed ours in 
this Congress.
  Every Sunday in Catholic churches, and I know in other Christian 
churches as well, we hear the words ``Do this in memory of me,'' the 
words of Christ at the Last Supper. But I view it as not just about 
doing what happened at that Last Supper, but doing the good works that 
Christ performed here and set as an example for us.
  And every day in saying the Mass, Father Coughlin does this in memory 
of Christ. But beyond the Mass, in his personal guidance to us and his 
work among the poor in India and his prayerfulness in the Trappist 
monastery in Kentucky, in his stint--is that the word, stint, Father, 
in Vatican City?--his stay in Vatican City, his enrichment, the 
enrichment of his faith and religiosity became more intense.
  So we are all grateful to Dennis Hastert as Speaker of the House and 
the committee that worked with him to make the choice of what would be 
a new Chaplain for us 10 years ago. We were blessed that Father 
Coughlin had worked with Cardinal Bernardin in Chicago and Cardinal 
George after that, and he was recommended to our former Speaker, who 
was from Illinois and was well known to the people in Chicago. That 
connection is a connection that has blessed all of our lives.
  So as we honor his 10 years of service to the Congress, that is a 
small number of years--I mean it is a long time to be in Congress and 
to serve as Chaplain--he has seen us through the dark and through the 
bright. He has helped us personally, and he has helped us understand 
our responsibilities to God's creation. And he has always understood. 
His generosity of spirit has given him an understanding so that when he 
speaks to any of us we know that we are hearing words of wisdom, words 
of values, words that are faith-based, but words that recognize our 
responsibilities to this great Nation as elected officials. He knows to 
render unto Caesar and to render unto God. We could not be better 
served.
  And so it is with great joy that I join our colleagues, some little 
regret that fate had not placed me in a situation where I could be 
where Mr. Sensenbrenner and his wife Cheryl were last weekend, and Mr. 
Lipinski and 35 concelebrants of the Mass of Holy Eucharist to 
celebrate the 50th anniversary of--how could it be 50 years, Father?
  Congresswoman Eshoo and I were just talking about when we all went 
together in a bipartisanship delegation to Rome for the funeral of Pope 
John Paul, and what a moving experience that was. And what a force you 
were for all of us. To have us see the role that His Holiness played in 
history of course is well known to us. And I just want to mention Paula 
Nowakowski here, former staff person to John Boehner, for whom John 
Paul II was a hero, as he was a personal hero to many of us. But the 
guide that you were to us to that funeral, to that liturgy, to that 
transition is something that we will never forget.
  So for this and for every reason every single day that we serve, we 
thank you. Anyone who cares about the success of our Nation and our 
ability to work together is deeply indebted to you. Thank you, Father 
Coughlin. God has certainly blessed America with your service to this 
House and to our country. We love you. Thank you.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. CAPUANO. I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from California 
(Ms. Eshoo).
  Ms. ESHOO. I thank the gentleman from Massachusetts and the authors 
of this resolution honoring our Chaplain, Father Daniel Coughlin.
  Mr. Speaker, when I think of Father Coughlin coming to the House, I 
think of the moment 10 years ago when our previous Chaplain had retired 
and the Speaker and the Minority Leader appointed a committee to come 
up with a recommendation. There was some turmoil that was a part of 
that. But I have always believed that the Spirit's hand was in this. 
And who came forward but Father Coughlin from Chicago?
  Everyone has spoken about what he did before he came here. But 
essentially, Father Coughlin was a parish priest. And so from all of 
the experience that he had in tending that flock, he came to tend a new 
one, and that is the United States House of Representatives. And tend 
this flock he has.
  As Mr. Sensenbrenner said, there are many constituents that have 
asked why does the United States House of Representatives need a 
Chaplain? Look up above the Speaker's chair. It says, ``In God we 
trust.'' But many times what happens to human beings really shakes that 
trust. So the Chaplain of the House is the one that tends to each one. 
How important that is in not only the dark times, the dark periods in 
individuals' lives where they need the spiritual guidance, the support, 
the love, the quiet time, the trust with someone that will never break 
that trust. That is what Father Coughlin has done on an individual 
basis with Members throughout the House.
  It matters not, as was said before, what faith background any Member 
comes from, and even if they don't have any faith background. That 
guidance feeds the soul and it helps to heal each person here that has 
gone through something traumatic in order to resume the public duties 
that are filled with burdens and blessings as Members of Congress. But 
there are national times of stress and burden, and he has been with us 
throughout those times as well.
  Fifty years as a priest. I can't help but think of the words that are 
said at ordination. ``Thou art a priest forever.'' And 50 years. What a 
great blessing. An even greater blessing for your mother, Father 
Coughlin, to be present when you were ordained, throughout your 
priesthood, and 50 years, 10 years of that priesthood here with the 
United States House of Representatives. We honor you and we thank you 
for it.
  And as a Roman Catholic, I want you to know that you are a special 
source of pride. But that pride I think is really felt by the entire 
House. Thank you for your quiet faith, for your steely faith, for the 
prayers that you offer here that when each one of us take those to 
heart it's a road map. It's a road map because it is faith that calls 
us to everything that we do in life. And today in 2010 in the 21st 
century those words of faith are our reality. And it calls us to do 
better for our country and people around the world.
  So God bless you and thank you for your 50 years and your 10 sterling 
years here.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, it is somewhat ironic that we are recognizing Father 
Coughlin's service to our Nation and to this House as the Chaplain of 
the House of Representatives in the same week that a Federal judge has 
instructed us that the National Day of Prayer is somehow 
unconstitutional.
  I look and I see, Mr. Speaker, over your head the words ``In God we 
trust,'' the national motto, which indicates that one does not have to 
be a person of faith to be an American citizen. But the idea of the 
worth of the individual and the idea that the rights of the individual 
came from God and not from some monarch is essential to the 
understanding of the beginnings of this Republic. And from the 
beginnings of this Republic we have had a Chaplain ministering to the 
needs of the Members. It is not a new idea or novel idea. It is an idea 
that is firmly entrenched in the tradition of this institution and this 
country. Father Coughlin has been a great example of that tradition. 
And we hope he continues.
  I might say that he ministers to all of us no matter what party of 
which we are a member, but I sort of enjoy the fact that he ministers 
to those of us on

[[Page H2737]]

this side since I found myself in the minority on most of the years I 
have served here, and therefore by definition the underdog. So when I 
met Father Coughlin's great mother, who is dedicated to the great 
underdog of all time, the Chicago Cubs, I felt some kinship.
  And I thought it interesting just a couple of years ago when Father 
told me that his mother, in her nineties, still serves as an usher at 
Wrigley Field. But to show you the ability that Father has to take a 
situation that may be fraught with some peril and give guidance, he 
told me that he finally convinced his mother that she should not be 
ushering both ends of a doubleheader. So that we do understand that she 
now goes home after the first game of a doubleheader at Wrigley Field.

                              {time}  1200

  It is that type of pragmatic guidance, combined with the great 
spiritual principles, that makes him such a great friend to all of us 
here in the House of Representatives, and allows us to do our job with 
a little more civility than we otherwise would, understanding that what 
we do is important, maybe we're not that important, even though we 
might be from time to time in our minds.
  He reminds us of transcendent values and helps us through very 
difficult days with an objective of helping us to do the people's 
business here in the House of Representatives.
  It is a pleasure and a privilege for me to serve in the House of 
Representatives. It is a privilege and a pleasure for me to have the 
friendship of Father Coughlin and the assistance of Father Coughlin as 
he gives that to all of us who serve here.
  And so I would hope that all Members would join us in supporting 
House Resolution 1216.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, we've heard lots of goods things about 
Father Coughlin, but there are still a few mysteries left that he has 
to help us unravel. I will tell you, Father, with good faith, with a 
lot of prayer sometime, and a good team, the Cubs will actually win a 
World Series. As a Red Sox fan, I can tell you it works.
  Father, the other great mystery, as a good Irishman myself, you're 
going to have to explain to me Coughlin versus Coughlin. That will come 
later.
  I wanted to do this today because of my respect for Father Coughlin 
as a human being and as a priest. But I think to be a good priest you 
have to be a good human being first. I don't think it's the other way 
around.
  And I will tell that in the 10 years he's been here I've come to 
consider him a friend. I've come to see him as somebody in my mind who 
is one of the best representatives of the Catholic faith that I have 
ever known.
  And I will tell you, Father, from my perspective I want to thank you, 
not just for your service to this House, but for being such a good 
person. From somebody who's gone from the streets of Calcutta to the 
Vatican to the House of Representatives, you have maintained your 
modesty, you have maintained your dignity. And as far as I'm concerned, 
you're a fine and wonderful human being that I am proud to call both 
the Chaplain of this House, but also my friend and someone I look up 
to.
  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my deep appreciation of 
the ministry of Father Daniel Coughlin, Chaplain of the House.
  His presence in this Chamber is comforting and supportive. His 
kindness and concern is evident to all who know him. Father Coughlin's 
prayers before this Chamber are relevant, beautiful and timeless. I 
have no doubt his words--captured in the Record as a permanent part of 
the history of the House--will be quoted long after all of us presently 
serving are gone.
  I was co-chairman of the bipartisan chaplain search committee 
commissioned by Speaker Dennis Hastert 10 years ago.
  Unfortunately, a process begun with the best of intentions by the 
Speaker and all participants, ended up in partisan acrimony and finger 
pointing with each party believing the other was motivated by 
intentions highly unworthy of the task at hand--finding a Chaplain for 
the House.
  God's hand must surely have guided Speaker Hastert as he jettisoned 
the failed selection process and--in consultation with church leaders 
in his home State of Illinois--picked Father Coughlin to serve as our 
Chaplain.
  Father Coughlin was a parish priest, and we are blessed he accepted 
the assignment of the U.S. House of Representatives to be his new 
parish.
  He has served us all in a pure ecumenical spirit. He has been a 
faithful friend, counselor and minister to us all.
  I feel privileged to know Father Coughlin and extend my deepest 
congratulations to him on the twin milestones of 50 years in the 
priesthood and 10 years as Chaplain of the House.
  God bless you, Father Coughlin. Thank you for your wonderful 
ministry.
  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
this resolution congratulating Father Coughlin on 10 years of service 
as House chaplain and want to thank my very good friend, Mr. Lipinski, 
for authoring it.
  Since 2000 Father Coughlin has been a blessing to us, a presence of 
prayer, and a reminder of the grace we have to ask God for--beg God 
for--as we exercise our responsibilities in this House.
  He has also been a personal friend to me and I want to thank him for 
that.
  Mr. Speaker, I particularly appreciate Father Coughlin's moving 
prayers and his Web site where he puts up a ``Thought for the Day'' and 
keeps the House informed of spiritual events on Capitol Hill for 
Christians, Jews, and Muslims, and members of other faiths. I 
frequently read theses prayers and thoughts, and am grateful for his 
inspiration to me and my fellow members.
  Today he has posted, as ``Thought for the Day,'' a quote from Pope 
Benedict XVI, from his April 18 address to young people in Malta:

       God loves every one of us with a depth and intensity that 
     we can hardly begin to imagine. And he knows us intimately, 
     he knows all our strengths and all our faults. Because he 
     loves us so much, he wants to purify us of our faults and 
     build up our virtues so that we can have life in abundance. 
     When he challenges us because something in our lives is 
     displeasing to him, he is not rejecting us, but he is asking 
     us to change and become more perfect. That is what he asked 
     of Saint Paul on the road to Damascus. God rejects no one. 
     And the Church rejects no one. Yet in his great love, God 
     challenges all of us to change and to become more perfect.

  Thank you, Father Coughlin, for reminding us of this--we do our work 
differently, and better, when we carry with us an awareness of God's 
love.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Lipinski's resolution also draws attention to Father 
Coughlin's 50 years of service to God, and His flock, as an ordained 
priest--Father Coughlin's fiftieth anniversary will be on May 3rd, and 
I want to congratulate and thank him for that as well.
  Father Coughlin has also, as this resolution points out, served God 
with the Missionaries of Charity, in India, and in Rome, as a scholar-
in-residence at the North American College. I am sure that his 
experience in both places enriched his service to the House.
  Finally, I note from the resolution, that, while the House chaplaincy 
was instituted in 1789, in 2000 Father Coughlin became the first 
Catholic priest to hold the office of Chaplain of the House. He follows 
many others who have been a blessing on the House--and I have known 
several of them--and has certainly filled their shoes well.
  Thank you, Father Coughlin.
  I urge members to support this excellent resolution.
  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I 
would urge passage of this resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Capuano) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1216.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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