Civic Register
| 4.27.18
Following Backlash, Ryan Swears House Chaplain Back Into Office
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UPDATE - May 9, 2018: House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) swore Rev. Patrick Conroy back in as House chaplain on Tuesday, after reconciling with the priest he’d fired weeks earlier.
“Father Pat and I had a good cup of coffee this morning," Ryan told reporters following the ceremony. "I think we can ultimately make improvements so that everyone has access to the pastoral services they’re looking for."
- Ryan faced criticism, and a potential inquiry, over his decision to solicit a letter of resignation from the Roman Catholic priest.
- While no reason for the firing was given at the time, sources told multiple outlets, including The Hill, that it “was because Conroy offered a prayer on the House floor that could have been interpreted as critical of the GOP tax law, legislation strongly championed by Ryan.”
- Father Conroy said he and Ryan, who is also Catholic, "will be meeting again to talk about the deficiencies that were mentioned in his statements, and how they can be rectified."
Read Countable's original story below.
Ryan Faces Backlash Over Firing of House Chaplain
What’s the story?
- House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) is facing criticism, and a potential inquiry, over his decision to fire House chaplain Rev. Patrick Conroy.
- Conroy submitted a letter of resignation at Ryan’s behest, writing to the Catholic speaker: “As you have requested, I hereby offer my resignation as the 60th Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives.”
What are House members saying?
- Pete King (R-NY), who’s Catholic, said Ryan’s reticence to explain the reasons for Conroy’s ouster was “unsatisfactory.”
"To me it was an unsatisfactory answer," King said. "It is such an unprecedented action to be to only be taken for very, very serious issues. And the speaker said it was just because certain people said he was not complying with their request or was not giving good counsel. I never heard that from anyone. Anyone who I know who deals with him has the highest regard for him."
- A bipartisan group of lawmakers - led by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) – is sending a letter to Ryan requesting a “description of the process followed to arrive at the decision and a justification for that decision.”
- Meanwhile, Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio is looking into whether Ryan violated House procedure by requesting Conroy’s resignation. “I don’t want to make it a partisan thing,” she said. “This is about a person and justice has to prevail.”
“For me as a Catholic, with everything else that has gone in my church with cover-ups and all the rest, I feel a special responsibility to not have someone’s reputation damaged,” Kaptur added.
What do you think?
Do you support Kaptur’s inquiry into Conroy’s firing? Would you like to see a different chaplain brought into the House? Are you interested in the reasons behind Conroy’s ouster? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.
—Josh Herman
(Photo Credit: The American Review via YouTube)
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