House Chaplain Patrick Conroy’s sudden resignation has sparked a furor on Capitol Hill, with sources in both parties saying he was pushed out by Speaker Paul Ryan
Paul Davis RyanPaul Ryan ‘will await the findings’ of Jim Jordan investigation Overnight Health Care: Trump officials want more time to reunite families | Washington braces for Supreme Court pick | Nebraska could be next state to vote on Medicaid expansion Dems call on Ryan to provide free feminine hygiene products in House bathrooms MORE (R-Wis.).
Conroy’s own resignation announcement stated that it was done at Ryan’s request.
Through his office, Conroy, who has served as chaplain since 2011, declined to comment on Thursday. His resignation is effective May 24.
Four different sources — two from each party — say Conroy was told that he must retire or that he would be dismissed.
The message from Ryan was delivered by his chief of staff, Jonathan Burks.
The issue has riled House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro PelosiBeyond enthusiasm, the 'Resistance' of 2018 is not the Tea Party of 2010 Clash looms over ICE funding The Memo: At EPA, Pruitt is gone but policies stay MORE (D-Calif.), who broached the episode during the Democrats’ whip meeting in the Capitol Thursday morning.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers are planning to send a letter to Ryan requesting additional information regarding Conroy’s dismissal; the group is currently circulating the letter among colleagues to collect more signatures.
House chaplains, who offer an opening prayer each day the House is in session, are supposed to be nonpartisan.
It’s unclear exactly what if any political dispute, however, led to the chaplain’s dismissal.
A Democratic lawmaker said that the Speaker took issue with a prayer on the House floor that could have been perceived as being critical of the GOP tax-cut bill.
On Nov. 6 — the first day of the markup on the GOP's tax bill — Conroy in a prayer urged lawmakers to ensure the legislation did not exacerbate the nation's gaping class disparities.
AshLee Strong, a spokeswoman for Ryan, said it was Ryan’s decision, but declined to offer a reason for the move. She added that Pelosi and her office “were fully read in and did not object.”
"The speaker told Leader Pelosi that he would not move forward with the decision if she objected and she chose not to," Strong said.
In a separate statement to media outlets late Thursday, Strong said, "The speaker consulted with the minority leader, but the decision was his. He remains grateful for Father Conroy’s service."
Pelosi’s office disputed that the Democrat did not object.
“Leader Pelosi was given advance notice by Speaker Ryan," said a Pelosi spokesman, but she “also made it clear to Speaker Ryan that she disagreed with this decision.”
A second Democratic aide said Conroy’s ouster was “largely driven by a speech on the tax bill that the Speaker didn't like.” But the source also offered a second reason.
“Some of the more conservative evangelical Republicans didn't like that the Father had invited a Muslim person to give the opening prayer,” the source said.
When Pelosi, who is Catholic, informed members of her whip team on Thursday morning that Conroy was pushed out against his will, it “shocked” the members, according to one lawmaker.
Catholic members on both sides of the aisle were furious to learn that Conroy’s retirement was not voluntary, according to multiple sources, including one Republican lawmaker and one Democratic member.
Ryan, who is also Catholic, has appointed Rep. Doug Collins
Douglas (Doug) Allen CollinsImmigration overhaul on life support in the House Time to set politics aside to move ahead on criminal justice reform Don’t kick the can down the road on prison reform — now is the time for change MORE (R-Ga.), an Air Force Reserve chaplain, as well as Reps. Mark Walker
Bradley (Mark) Mark WalkerMembers of Congress weigh in on the great 4th of July debate: Hot dogs or hamburgers Trump, GOP launch full-court press on compromise immigration measure AEI: GOP tax law will reduce charitable giving by .2 billion MORE (R-N.C.) and Tim Walberg
Timothy (Tim) Lee WalbergOvernight Defense: Top general defends Afghan war progress | VA shuffles leadership | Pacific Command gets new leader, name | Pentagon sued over HIV policy GOP leaders scramble to contain immigration rebellion House Republicans reserve millions in early air time MORE (R-Mich.), both former pastors, to lead the search effort to find a replacement.
Conroy’s arrival on Capitol Hill was also marked with some controversy. The Jesuit priest was nominated by former Speaker John Boehner
John Andrew BoehnerVeterans are left out of medical marijuana protections Former top Treasury official to head private equity group GOP strategist Steve Schmidt denounces party, will vote for Democrats MORE (R-Ohio) in May 2011, but Pelosi urged additional vetting of the pick after learning that Conroy was then working for a Catholic religious order — the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus — that had agreed just months earlier to pay $166 million to victims of sexual abuse going back decades.
There was no evidence that Conroy was involved in the scandal, nor did Pelosi suggest that was the case. After further questioning, she endorsed his nomination.
– Juliegrace Brufke and Scott Wong contributed to this report, which was updated at 8:23 p.m.
