WASHINGTON — House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., dismissed the Rev. Patrick J. Conroy this month as chaplain of the chamber, an unusual decision that has left some of the Jesuit priest’s friends questioning the move.
Ryan made no mention of the reasons behind Conroy’s ouster in an April 16 announcement, leaving the impression among most lawmakers that the priest was leaving voluntarily. The speaker called Conroy “a great source of strength and support to our community. He is deeply admired by members and staff.”
But the issue blew up in recent days as lawmakers began to speak to the chaplain, whose public role is to offer the opening prayer each day the House is in session — but whose private role, far more importantly, is to serve as a pastoral counsel to the entire community on the House side of the Capitol.
The issue has also split Ryan and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Pelosi, according to a senior aide, disagreed with the decision and told Ryan that she had only heard good things about Conroy.
Ryan’s office disputed that Pelosi opposed the decision, suggesting that Ryan would not have taken the action if Pelosi fully objected.
“While it was the speaker’s decision, she and her office were fully read in, and did not object,” AshLee Strong, Ryan’s spokeswoman, said in a statement.
In his letter of resignation, Conroy made clear that he was leaving at Ryan’s request.
“As you have requested, I hereby offer my resignation as the 60th chaplain of the United States House of Representatives,” Conroy wrote to Ryan on April 16.
“I have seen it as a blessing and I have considered it one of the great privileges of my life,” he added.
Approached Thursday about Ryan’s decision, Conroy said he did not want to talk in the media about the matter, declining further comment.
After consulting with Ryan’s staff, Conroy set May 24 as his last day in office. At Wednesday’s House GOP caucus, Ryan announced that Rep. Douglas Collins, R-Ga., would lead a bipartisan committee to recommend a replacement for Conroy.
Conroy is just the second Catholic priest to serve as House chaplain, after the Rev. Daniel P. Coughlin, who was chosen for the post in 2000 after a months-long protest by Catholic lawmakers. In late 1999, a bipartisan committee had recommended a different priest for the post, but the Republican leaders at the time chose a Presbyterian minister instead.
After a protracted fight, Coughlin was instead chosen for the post, making history as the first Catholic chaplain.
He served until 2011.
