From Share Blue
Nobody's ever fired the House chaplain. But Paul Ryan did.
Paul Ryan
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Despite bipartisan outcry, Republican House members voted Friday to block the call for an investigation into the bizarre and unprecedented forced resignation of House chaplain Patrick Conroy by Speaker Paul Ryan.
Ryan's only vague reason for the move, which he offered after news of the forced resignation broke, is because, he says, some members felt their "pastoral needs" weren't being met. But there is widespread feeling within Congress that Conroy, a Jesuit priest who leads the chamber in prayer, is being removed because he has emphasized equity in his work during the age of Trump.
A senior Democratic leadership aide told Shareblue Media Conroy was "pushed out because he was praying for justice and fairness."
In a statement, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi disputed the claim that Conroy failed to meet the needs of House members.
"Father Pat Conroy's service for the last seven years has been a blessing of grace and dignity to the House of Representatives. He has ministered to the needs of Members of the Congress, regardless of party," she said.
"During Father Conroy's entire service, I've never received a complaint from our Members about him pastoring to the needs of the House."
On Friday, House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joseph Crowley offered up a privileged resolution to establish a six-person select committee to look into Conroy's firing. The resolution was defeated by a vote of 215-171 with three Republicans voting present.
Last November, when the House was voting on a GOP tax giveaway to billionaires and corporations, Conroy reportedly triggered Republican ire when he urged compassion.
"As legislation on taxes continues to be debated this week and next, may all Members be mindful that the institutions and structures of our great nation guarantee the opportunities that have allowed some to achieve great success, while others continue to struggle," Conroy said during the daily prayer.
Soon after that, "A [Ryan] staffer came down and said, 'We are upset with this prayer; you are getting too political,'" Conroy told the New York Times. The next time he saw Ryan, the speaker told him, "Padre, you just got to stay out of politics."