House Chaplain Conroy

Rev. Patrick J. Conroy was reinstated on May 3rd as House Chaplain after rescinding his coerced resignation.

Controversy emerged in the House after House Speaker Paul Ryan’s (R-WI) chief of staff, Jonathan Burks, demanded the resignation of Conroy. And it wasn’t until roughly two weeks after Conroy tendered his resignation on April 15 that it became publicly known.

Why did Ryan dismiss Conroy? Speaker Ryan cited a lack of pastoral services for his decision, but reportedly the decision reflected animus against some of the chaplain’s espoused principles pertaining to policy, specifically the GOP tax plan.

Conroy advocated that lawmakers ensure that “there are not winners and losers,” but rather “benefits balances and shared by all Americans.”

Since Conroy’s resignation had been accepted and placed in the House record, Conroy had to be re-sworn in by Ryan.