Paul Ryan bows to backlash and reverses decision to oust House chaplain
Republican leader Paul Ryan has reversed his decision to have an official chaplain resign amid a bipartisan uproar.
Shortly after House of Representatives chaplain Father Patrick Conroy rescinded his resignation, defying Mr Ryan and suggesting his ouster was politically motivated, Mr Ryan relented.
“I have accepted Father Conroy’s letter and deed that he will remain in his position as Chaplain of the House”, Mr Ryan said in a statement, adding that his initial move to have Fr Conroy resign was made “to ensure that the House has the kind of pastoral services the it deserves”.
In a two-page letter to Mr Ryan released earlier in the day, Fr Conroy said he had not heard from the Republican leader until Mr Ryan’s chief of staff approached him last month and asked him to resign. Fr Conroy said he had not committed any offences that could merit his being pushed out.
“I have never been disciplined, nor reprimanded, nor have I ever heard a complaint about my ministry during my time as House chaplain”, Fr Conroy wrote.
Instead, Fr Conroy suggested, the decision may have been related to “my November prayer” - an apparent reference to a speech in which he issued a plea for fairness as Congress was debating a major tax overhaul. The measure was a priority for Mr Ryan, who has advocated tax cuts throughout his political career.
“May [legislators’] efforts these days guarantee that there are not winners and losers under new tax laws, but benefits balanced and shared by all Americans”, he said in the November 2017 speech.
Mr Ryan’s decision to ask for Fr Conroy’s resignation stoked controversy, with legislators from both parties questioning the move and signing onto a letter demanding more information.
A letter from more than 100 members of the House warned of the “politicisation of the process for hiring and dismissing a House chaplain” and pointed to “questions of religious bias”.
In a prior interview with the Independent, Virginia Democrat Gerry Connolly said some members suspected Fr Conroy was being punished for his political beliefs.
“There is a view that Mr Ryan did not want a chaplain who talked about social justice, and he found a way to rid him of ‘this troublesome priest’”, Mr Connolly said.
Mr Ryan denied at an event in Milwaukee last week that his decision to ask for Fr Conroy's resignation was “about politics or prayers”.
“A number of our members felt like the pastoral services were not being adequately served, or offered”, Mr Ryan said.
