Object
Father Thomas Cavanaugh's Liturgical Stole
A narrow, scarf‑like liturgical vestment—likely silk with embroidered crosses and subtle gold threading—worn draped over the shoulders and hanging down the front. Father Cavanaugh produces and dons it deliberately, the fabric whispering as he settles into the sacramental posture. Characters react with solemn restraint: Bartlet kneels beneath it, Charlie and C.J. step back, and the stole becomes the immediate, tactile marker of a private religious rite inside the Oval Office.
2 appearances
Purpose
Worn by a priest to perform sacramental rites—specifically to facilitate and signify the administration of confession and associated liturgical duties.
Significance
Functions as the physical instrument that converts a political crisis into a spiritual encounter; the stole legitimizes Father Cavanaugh's authority to hear Bartlet's confession and marks the scene's shift from legal strategy to moral reckoning.
Appearances in the Narrative
When this object appears and how it's used