ontroversy and accusations continue to swirl over the selection of the next official chaplain for the U.S.House of Representatives thanks news reports that Rev. Billy Graham may have recommended a Presbyterian minister, Rev. Charles Parker Wright, for the position.

   Over the weekend, a spokesman for House Speaker Dennis Hastert revealed that Graham had been in touch.

   "I do think that he (Billy Graham) did express support for (Wright), declared staff aide John Feehery. "But the speaker's mind was already set on Rev. Wright as the right choice ..."

   Congress has been divided over the choice of a new House Chaplain since last November, when Mr. Hastert announced the appointment of Wright to the position. The move surprised many on the hill, including some members of an 18-person bipartisan committee which had interviewed dozens of prospective candidates, and came up with a list of three favorites. Along with Wright, a Presbyterian, were Rev. Robert Dvorak of the Evangelical Covenant Church and Rev. Timothy J. O'Brien, a Roman Catholic priest.

   A Catholic has never held the position of House Chaplain. O'Brien was considered popular, even a favorite, with many committee members. Hastert's announcement led to charges that the GOP-controlled House was appointing Wright as a bone to religious conservatives and the party's religious right wing which is composed mostly of Protestant fundamentalists and evangelicals.

   Hastert's office initially denied that Graham ever called the speaker, or discussed the House Chaplain's post. Spokespersons for Graham tell a slightly different story, though; according to Associated Press, Graham was returning a call from Hastert, but did not specifically press Wright's name for the job.

   Thursday's edition of the capitol hill paper Roll Call first broke the story about Graham's alleged involvement.

   William Donohue of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights -- which for several weeks has charged "anti-Catholic bias" in the possible appointment of Wright for the chaplain's position -- stood by the Roll Call account.

   "ROLL CALL did not err in its story," said Donohue in a Friday press release. "We know this because we independently learned that House Speaker Dennis Hastert's office took great delight in telling their supporters that Rev. Billy Graham was lobbying for Rev. Wright. Now Graham denies this happened and even denies making the phone calls in the first place."

   Donahue accused Republicans of building a "House of Lies," and charged that while "Everyone respects Rev. Billy Graham ... he is wrong on this issue."

   In a public statement, Graham said "I cannot and did not take a position concerning the choice of the new Chaplain." Roll Call is standing by its account, though. Reporter Amy Keller says that unidentified "mutual friends" of Graham and Hastert encouraged their telephone exchange, and that Graham actually dialed Hastert's phone number. A source close to Hastert reported that Graham declared, "It would be a good thing to stick with Wright. You should do the right thing and stay with Dr. Wright..."

   The latest chapter in the chaplaincy flap came as the House of Representatives voted to award Cardinal John O'Connor of New York it's Congressional Gold Medal. This has led to speculation that the move is meant to appease Catholics and other supporters of Father Timothy O'Brien.

   Later that same day, though, Hastert's office hosted a meeting with "several Catholic leaders," according to Associated press. Among those invited was Deal Hudson, editor of Crisis, a magazine focusing on politics, culture and the Roman Catholic Church.

   Hudson told Associated Press writer Janelle Carter that he did not attend the meeting, though, and that the flap over Graham "makes Catholics even more determined to see that a priest becomes chaplain."

   Others at the meeting included Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas); Republican National Committee Chairman Jim Nicholson; Michael Novak, chairman of public policy and religion at the American Enterprise Institute; Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and other lawmakers.

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