Ryan: Dismissed House chaplain wasn’t meeting ‘pastoral needs’

Speaker Ryan’s press secretary said the decision to resign was the padre’s, something that Conroy clearly said was not the case in his resignation letter.

The House and Senate chaplains perform ceremonial duties, such as opening the daily sessions with a prayer, as well as other pastoral and ceremonial duties, such as presiding over the weddings and funerals of members of Congress. By Walker’s requirements, priests like Father Conroy could be ruled out due to celibacy requirements of the Catholic priesthood.

Ryan’s office won’t say why Conroy was asked to resign. As for why, he added, “that is unclear”. “That is what I have tried to do for seven years … it doesn’t sound political to me”, said Conroy. The priest was magnanimous in an interview with The New York Times after his firing, saying, “My understanding going into this is that I serve at the prerogative of the speaker”.

That much does appear clear.

The chaplain is also responsible for “pastoral counseling” duties to the House community, including arranging memorial services for the House members and its staff and performing marriage and funeral ceremonies for House members. Reps. Patrick Meehan (R-Pa.) and Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) were the only Republicans who voted with Democrats to create the committee.

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.

Although a Pelosi aide confirmed the minority leader had been informed ahead of time, they said Pelosi had actually defended Conroy, telling Ryan the chaplain still had the confidence of many members of Congress. “I was unprepared to learn that he’d been fired”, said Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va.

Not all of Ryan’s caucus bought the explanation.

Ryan’s office announced Conroy’s resignation on April 16, but his forced removal wasn’t revealed until this week. Conroy is a Jesuit. Ryan is a devout Catholic.

“To me it was an unsatisfactory answer”, King explained. “It is such an unprecedented action to be to only be taken for very, very serious issues”. “Paul said it was exclusively because he wasn’t giving good service to the members”. Pierce wondered. “I think it’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard”. “Anyone who I know who deals with him has the highest regard for him”.

AshLee Strong, a spokeswoman for Ryan, denies to CNN that Conroy was forced out for something he said or did, but did not offer a reason. “We’d like to have a more active Priest/Pastor”.

A House chaplain should be “someone who goes to the person who’s hurting”, the North Carolina Republican said.

During his tenure as House Chaplain, Rev. Conroy’s presence has been seen as increasingly problematic by conservatives and faithful Catholics.