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The Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives is one of the officers of the United States House of Representatives. The House cites the first half of Article 1, Section 2, Clause 5 in the United States Constitution as giving it the authority to elect a Chaplain, "The House of Representatives shall choose their speaker and other officers". The office of the Clerk of the House explains "The other officers have been created and their duties defined by the rules of the House, which also are made pursuant to the authority of the Constitution, hence one of the rules prescribes the duties of the Chaplain."〔 In addition to opening proceedings with prayer, the Chaplain provides pastoral counseling to the House community, coordinates the scheduling of guest chaplains, and arranges memorial services for the House and its staff. In the past, Chaplains have performed marriage and funeral ceremonies for House members. Chaplains are elected as individuals and not as representatives of any religious community, body, or organization. As of 2011, all House Chaplains have been Christian but can be members of any religion or faith group. Guest Chaplains, recommended by congressional members to deliver the session's opening prayer in place of the House Chaplain, have represented many different religious groups, including Judaism and Islam. The current House Chaplain is Fr. Patrick J. Conroy, S.J., the first Jesuit priest to hold the position.〔(Jesuit High School, Oregon ), retrieved May 6, 2011.〕〔(thehill.com ), retrieved May 25, 2011.〕 Conroy was sworn in May 25, 2011.〔 ==Duties== The Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives is chosen to "perform ceremonial, symbolic, and pastoral duties."〔(Brudnick, Ida, "House and Senate Chaplains: An Overview," Congressional Research Service report for Congress, May 26, 2011. )〕 These responsibilities include opening House sessions with a prayer or coordinating the delivery of the prayer by guest chaplains recommended by members of the House.〔(www.senate.gov ), retrieved July 27, 2011.〕〔(Congressional glossary: pro forma sessions ), retrieved July 27, 2011.〕〔(www.gods-directions-for-life.com ), retrieved July 27, 2011.〕 The House Chaplain is also responsible for "hosting" Guest Chaplains on the day they deliver prayers.〔(legacy.c-span.org ), retrieved July 27, 2011.〕 The Chaplain also provides pastoral care for members of Congress, their staffs, and their families, and provides or oversees religious programs such as Bible study, reflection groups, and the weekly Senate Prayer Breakfast.〔 The Chaplain also often presides over religious ceremonies such as funerals and memorial services for current or past members and participates, offering delivering the invocation or benediction, at many official U.S. ceremonies, including White House events.〔(www.ifapray.org ), retrieved July 27, 2011.〕 In a January 2011 post on "On Watch in Washington," the Chaplain of the Senate as well as the Chaplain of the House were included as part of "Obama's Spiritual Cabinet."〔 Along with the Senate Chaplain, the House Chaplain is responsible for overseeing the Capitol Prayer Room, located near the Capitol Rotunda.〔Byrd, Robert C.,("The Senate:1789-1989 (volume 2, chapter 12), Washington, D.C., Government Printing Office, 1982 ), retrieved July 27, 2011.〕 Dedicated in 1955, there are no worship services held in the room, nor is it normally open to the public.〔 Instead, as described by Sam Rayburn during the room's dedication, it is a place for members "who want to be alone with their God."〔 While all House Chaplains (as of 2011) have been Christian, Guest Chaplains have been selected to deliver occasional prayers to open House sessions "for many decades,"〔 and have represented both Christian and non-Christian faith groups, including Judaism and Islam.〔(William and Mary Bill of Rights Journal, Vol 17:117 ), retrieved July 27, 2011.〕〔Lincoln, C. Eric, "The Black Muslims in America," Third Edition, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1994, page 265.〕〔(Partial list of guest chaplains, from House of Representatives website ), retrieved August 8, 2011.〕 Congressional members are limited to one Guest Chaplain recommendation per Congress,〔(lummis.house.gov ), retrieved July 28, 2011.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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