Senate Chaplain: Religious Leader For Secular Flock
Religious Based News
Barry Black is the first Seventh-day Adventist and the first African American to hold the post of Senate chaplain. He's also the man who sits squarely at the intersection of church and state at the U.S. Capitol.
Source: NPR Topics: Religion
While due to his leanings, I can see someone who coordinates different religons and gets an idea of their thoughts is useful, I think his (and earlier) quoting the Constitution in a way so as to interpret it as saying there should be religious leaders directly involved with Senators where public policy is concerned, is the worst kind of irresponsible and transparent insinuation of a special interest group, in such as way as to be "legal".
Just because it is stated that government be established and not interfere with any religious expression doesn't mean you just start preachers in off the street to influence the policy makers with their beliefs. That's what a senator's or representative's own chosen church or other congregation is for - there's no reason for a "special snowflake" religious service available only to higher up politicians, that's pandering elitism and direct proselytizing - so if he's not providing actual input on policy-making, then exactly what is he for, since the senators have their own churches to go to?
It is a joke to say any part of the US politicial system is "secular" - nobody believes it and public policy demonstrates the falsehood of that assertion time and again. Illegal parties condoning illegal religious involvement in what should be decisions based on practical assessments of the country's needs, is part of why the US is in the outhouse.