Daniel Coughlin

Daniel P. Coughlin (born November 8, 1934) is an American Catholic priest who served as the 59th Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives from 2000, to 2011. He was the first Catholic to serve in the position, and the process that led to his selection included some controversy.

Life and early priesthood

Coughlin was born November 8, 1934, in Illinois. The son of Dan and Lucille Coughlin, he was raised on the North side of Chicago and graduated from Saint Mary of the Lake Seminary in Mundelein, Illinois, with a degree in Theology. Coughlin was ordained for the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 3, 1960. In 1968 he received a degree in Pastoral Studies from Loyola University, Chicago.

Coughlin's role was, in his words, a "pastor for priests," helping priests "comply with whatever protocols the archdiocese mandated," rather than making decisions about how accused priests should be managed. The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights called any allegations of wrongdoing on Coughlin's part a "witch hunt." Coughlin held the position of Vicar for Priests until he was sworn in as House Chaplain.

House of Representatives

Selection process controversy

The selection of the 59th Chaplain of the House of Representatives was a controversial process prior to Coughlin's eventual selection. Then House Speaker Dennis Hastert appointed a bipartisan search committee made up of 18 congressional members to recommend a new chaplain to him, but when that committee reportedly recommended a Catholic priest, Fr Timothy O'Brien (selected by secret ballot after consideration of more than 50 applicants and nominees for the position), Hastert chose Presbyterian minister Charles Parker Wright instead.

Hastert's decision not to select O'Brien led to accusations of anti-Catholic bias, and ultimately resulted in Wright's decision to withdraw his name from consideration.

Coughlin was described as a 65-year-old "gentle, soft-spoken priest," who said he was "blown away" by the news that he had been "plucked out of obscurity for the job and thrust into the middle of a political maelstrom."

Service

As House Chaplain, Coughlin opened every session with a prayer, either delivering it himself or coordinating the service of a guest chaplain (often nominated by members of the House, representing their home districts). He has also shared his belief in "prayer and the power of prayer," and its power to "bring about change in the nation's capital."

As House Chaplain, he also offered and coordinated pastoral counseling to the House community, and his office coordinated a website with information about worship services and upcoming special events in the areas of religion and faith in the Capitol Hill and Washington, D.C., area. were interpreted as being antithetical to Church teaching.

Referring to such debates as "very upsetting," Coughlin said that he "talked to members of the hierarchy on that as well as members of the House," telling Church leaders that he would "stay with my people whatever you do. I will be with my people whatever you do. I will hear them out. I will be with them." Therefore, he met with ministers, rabbis, and other religious leaders to "refer members of Congress to people who speak their spiritual language." In 2010, then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi described him by saying that "He has seen us through the dark and through the bright," and Representative Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) confessed to being "a better person for having known Father Coughlin and having been counseled by him." the Alumni Extraordinary Service Award from the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University, and an Honorary Doctorate in Theology from Lewis University. In 2002 he received the John F. Kennedy National Award by the Saint Patrick's Committee of Holyoke, MA, presented annually to an American of Irish descent who has distinguished oneself in one's chosen field.

Successor

A search for Coughlin's successor as House Chaplain was begun shortly before his retirement, with final approval in the hands of House Speaker John Boehner. In a 2011 audio interview with America magazine conducted two weeks before his retirement, Coughlin asked that citizens not only pray for all congressional members "by name," but also pray for the new House Chaplain.

Picture gallery

File:Dan Coughlin swearing in.jpg|House Speaker Dennis Hastert swears in Coughlin as House Chaplain, March 23, 2000

File:Daniel P. Coughlin.jpg|Photo from House of Representatives Chaplain Office brochure

File:Ram Emanuel, Louise Coughlin, Rev Daniel Coughlin.jpg|Coughlin with his mother Louise Coughlin and Rahm Emanuel, Wrigley Field, 2003

File:Daniel Coughlin honoring Rosa Parks.jpg|Delivering invocation at ceremony honoring Rosa Parks, with President George W. Bush and first lady Laura, 2005

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File:Daniel Coughlin at Gerald Ford Memorial Service.jpg|Coughlin (at podium) delivering invocation at memorial service for former President Gerald Ford, 2006.

File:Dan Coughlin Rep Tubbs funeral.jpg|Coughlin arrives in Cleveland for funeral of Representative Stephanie Tubbs, 2008.

File:Dan Coughlin retires.jpg|Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi present Coughlin with a flag flown over the Capitol, 2011.

File:Daniel Coughlin Final House Prayer.jpg|Coughlin delivers his final prayer as House Chaplain, April 14, 2011.