“Save us from the madness. Deliver us from the hypocrisy of attempting to sound reasonable while being unreasonable. Remove the burdens of those who are the collateral damage of this government shutdown, transforming negatives into positives.” — Senate Chaplain Barry Black, opening prayer on the Senate floor as quoted by POLITICO, Oct. 3 Senate chaplain knocks shutdown 'insanity'

Senate Chaplain Barry Black says there’s a level of “insanity” involved in the current government shutdown.

“Any objective observer would see a certain insanity in some of the things that have happened in this government shutdown,” Black said in an interview aired on “Fox News Sunday.”

Black, whose invocations on the Senate floor have gained widespread attention because of his criticism of the shutdown, said he’s had senators tell him he’s influenced their thinking on the issue.

(POLITICO's full government shutdown coverage)

“I’ve had senators who’ve told me, ‘I’m thinking differently about the way I’m voting because of some of the things you’ve said,’” Black said.

Asked what it would take to end the current impasse, the former Navy chaplain said: “It’s going to take humility.”