Lawmakers have begun to question House Speaker Paul Ryan’s, R-Wis., decision to dismiss Rev. Patrick Conroy earlier this month from his post as chaplain of the chamber.
“Is this a content judgment? We have no answers,” Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., said.
When Ryan made the announcement of Conroy’s departure April 16, he gave no reasoning and even said Conroy was “a great source of strength and support to our community,” the Washington Post reported.
Congressmen began speaking with the chaplain over the past few days, and questions have come up over why he was asked to resign.
Conroy is just the second Catholic priest to serve as House chaplain, and Ryan and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., are both Catholic.
Pelosi reportedly disagreed with Ryan’s decision and told the House speaker that she had only hear good things about Conroy. Ryan’s office disputes any claims that Pelosi outwardly expressed opposition to the decision.
The chaplain of the chamber’s public role is to offer opening prayer each day the House is in session, but he also provides pastoral counsel to the entire community in the House of Representatives.
