peaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) surprised congress late this afternoon by naming Rev. Daniel Coughlin, vicar of the Archdiocese of Chicago, as official chaplain for the U.S. House of Representatives. Coughlin would be the first Roman Catholic to occupy the post, which is funded annually by taxpayers to the tune of $138,000.

   During an emotionally charged speech on the House floor, Hastert admitted that the divisive controversy over naming a chaplain for congress had been "partisan," "ugly," and had brought down a pall of "shame" on the institution.

   According to early news reports, Hastert's original choice -- Presbyterian minister Charles Parker Wright -- had huddled with the speaker on Tuesday and Wednesday for private talks. Yesterday, Wright apparently sent a letter to Hastert asking that he no longer be considered for the position.

   "I regrettably request you consider withdrawing my appoint to become Chaplain of the House at this time," Wright said.

   Although Reuters, CNN and other news media are treating the appointment of Father Coughlin as the end of a matter which has divided Capitol Hill since last November, it is still unclear whether Hastert has the authority to unilaterally name a chaplain, or whether full ratification of the priest by the full House of Representatives will be necessary.

   Hastert's original nomination of Rev. Wright ignited a firestorm of protest from Catholic groups and Democrats who charged that the Speaker was pandering to the GOP's mostly Protestant evangelical and fundamentalist right wing. The issue was all the more incendiary since an 18-member bipartisan panel had selected Wright along with another Protestant and a popular Catholic priest, Rev. Timothy O'Brien. When Hastert announced his support for Rev. Wright prior to last Thanksgiving's Congressional recess, the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights accused the Speaker of religious bigotry.

   The controversy over the House chaplain has also become part of the election year 2000 campaign, with candidates exploiting religious issues and trading charges of sectarian bigotry. Texas Gov. George W. Bush kicked off his South Carolina primary campaign with a speech at Bob Jones University, a fundamentalist institution founded by a preacher who referred to the Catholic Church as a cult. Challenger John McCain accused Bush of anti-Catholicism.

   Yesterday, the Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call reported that Hastert was about to make a unilateral appointment, but much hinged on whether or not Wright was going to withdraw from the selection process. Hastert made his move late this afternoon, though. He told congress that he hoped the controversy over the chaplain's post would diminish over time, but that it had become clear that House Democrats would not support Wright.

   "My friends, in all of my years in this Congress, I have never seen a more cynical and more destructive political campaign," Hastert declared. "That such a campaign should be waged in connection with the selection of a House chaplain brings shame on this House."

   House Minority Leader Dick Gephardt had already announced his support for O'Brien, the Roman Catholic. He expressed approval, though, of Hastert's appointment of another Catholic -- Coughlin -- to the post.

   "I do believe that in the future ... we can find a process that will ensure bipartisanship in the selection of this important office," Gephardt declared in a floor speech.

   "I respect the Speaker's choice and ... we will do everything in our power to welcome this new chaplain and to make his service here a positive force for every member of this body."

   The role politics played in the chaplain's selection, though, was underscored by an Associated Press report early this evening. Correspondent David Espo revealed that Mr. Gephardt had originally favored another Protestant, Rev. Robert Dvorak, but switched his support to Father O'Brien. An aide in Gephardt office insists that the ranking minority head had always supported O'Brien. Espo also revealed that when the controversy heated up, Gephardt and Democratic cronies refused to act on Hastert's request to have Rev. Wright meet with rank and file party members.

   Father Coughlin was reportedly offered the chaplain's post early today, and immediately flew to Washington. As if sensing the building pressure, Hastert had met with Coughlin in Chicago this past Monday.

   Gephardt and Democrats are reportedly satisfied with the appointment of the new Roman Catholic. Little is being heard from religious conservatives on the hill, though, especially those in the GOP who supported Wright. If Coughlin is approved and confirmed by the House, it will end -- for now, anyway -- one of the most sectarian debates in congress in recent history.

   Unfortunately, approval of Coughlin not only gives the Roman Catholic Church more presence on Capitol Hill, but it may also defuse the possibility of abolishing the House chaplain's post. Several representatives had discussed implementing a "voluntary" or rotating chaplain, or doing away with the taxpayer-funded position.

   Earlier today, American Atheists issued a special "Alert" calling for a flood of e-mail, faxes and phone calls to congress demanding that the post of House chaplain be abolished. That campaign is now "on hold," pending further developments in congress.

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