« I Blame the Weatherman | Main | Oh, Sorry, Forgot... »

January 08, 2006

Greasing the Wheels of Government

Because that's what Jesus would do:

Insisting that God "certainly needs to be involved" in the Supreme Court confirmation process, three Christian ministers today blessed the doors of the hearing room where Senate Judiciary Committee members will begin considering the nomination of Judge Samuel Alito on Monday.

Capitol Hill police barred them from entering the room to continue what they called a consecration service. But in a bit of one-upsmanship, the three announced that they had let themselves in a day earlier, touching holy oil to the seats where Judge Alito, the senators, witnesses, Senate staffers and the press will sit, and praying for each of the 13 committee members by name.

"We did adequately apply oil to all the seats," said the Rev. Rob Schenck, who identified himself as an evangelical Christian and as president of the National Clergy Council in Washington.

While their actions are harmless, one has to wonder how well the Capitol is being protected, even if only from crazy people who think oil has magical properties beyond its use in petroleum and plastics and cooking (and, er, sensual massage, but this is a kid-friendly zone).

I'm also idly curious if things would have been handled differently had they not been obvious right-wing Christian kookity-kooks, but, say, left-wing moonbats in anti-Bush garb. You know, just wondering. Idly so at that.

The three ministers insisted they weren't taking sides in the Alito debate. "This is not a pro-Alito prayer," insisted the Rev. Patrick Mahoney, director of the Christian Defense Coalition. With abortion, public prayer, gay marriage and right-to-life issues among those topping public debate, however, "God…is interested in what goes on" in the nomination hearing, Rev. Schenck said.

The two men, along with Grace Nwachukwu, general manager of a group called Faith and Action, read three Psalms outside the committee room, knelt to say the Lord's Prayer and marked a cross in oil on the committee door before leaving.

Verily I say unto you, you are absolutely freakin' nuts.

No word if they saw the face of Jesus in the woodgrain of the committee room table (although I once saw Marty Feldman in a tub of cream cheese).

(found via Pharyngula)