RIGHT-WING PRAYER VIGIL: Are They Calling for CHAOS or PEACE?

A gathering of unusual purpose is set to unfold on Capitol Hill this week. Members of the House Freedom Caucus, alongside prominent figures, will convene not for debate or negotiation, but for prayer. The focus: a plea for an end to the escalating political violence gripping the nation and solace for those impacted by the relentless government shutdown.
The prayer call, organized in collaboration with the Family Research Council, carries a somber weight. It arrives in the wake of a chilling act of violence earlier this year – the assassination of a founder of Turning Point USA, a stark reminder of the fragility of civility in a deeply divided climate. Former Trump Cabinet official Ben Carson and Frank Turek will co-lead the event, adding to its gravity.
Beyond the immediate concerns of violence and the shutdown, the prayers will extend to broader appeals. President Trump, the entirety of Congress, and the pursuit of peace for Israel will all be held in contemplation. The timing is deliberate: Thursday will mark the thirtieth day of the ongoing federal closure.
The shutdown itself remains a seemingly intractable problem. Republicans and Democrats stand firm, locked in a fiscal standoff with no clear path to resolution. The core of the dispute centers on funding levels for the current fiscal year, which began October 1st.
The Republican strategy involves a short-term extension – a continuing resolution – designed to buy time for more comprehensive negotiations. This proposal also includes a significant increase, $88 million, for security measures protecting Congress, the White House, and the Supreme Court, acknowledging the heightened threat landscape.
That measure passed the House, but its journey has stalled in the Senate. Overcoming a filibuster requires the support of at least five Democrats, a hurdle that currently appears insurmountable. Democratic leaders are steadfast in their demand: any funding bill must include an extension of expiring COVID-era Affordable Care Act subsidies.
Since September 19th, Senate Democrats have blocked the Republican bill thirteen times, signaling a deepening impasse. The nation watches as political maneuvering continues, while the prayer gathering offers a different kind of response – a desperate appeal for peace and a return to common ground.