A huffy U.S. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, R-IL, in a surprise move on March 23, appointed Rev. Daniel P. Coughlin from the Archdiocese of Chicago to become the first Roman Catholic chaplain of the House of Representatives. It was also seen as a calculated attempt to help GOP presidential candidate George W. Bush, whose appearance at Bob Jones University had outraged Catholics. Many newspapers, columnists and activists had called for the elimination of Congressional chaplaincies in the wake of the divisive Catholic vs. Protestant bickering. Other problems include clannishness, exacerbated by a policy permitting students to wear Mormon rings. The church builds seminaries next to all public schools, which furthers the LDS influence.
Teachers commonly poll children over religious affiliation.
The Illinois Education Association condemned the scheme, saying it would shift vital resources to parochial schools at the expense of public schools and open the door to further abuses. The act represents the first time Maryland has directly contributed to general education at private and parochial schools. The scheme was promoted by the Maryland Catholic Conference. Brooks, an antiabortionist, has tried to downplay his role as a leader of the conservative Christian political movement. State Attorney General Drew Edmonson issued an opinion saying the committee had no legal authority to require a disclaimer.