Democrats cheered Father Patrick Conroy’s reinstatement as the House chaplain following a controversial dismissal, but they weren’t assuaged.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Democratic Caucus Chairman Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., want more answers.
“Speaker [Paul] Ryan’s decision to accept Father Conroy’s decision to rescind his resignation and finish his term is welcome news,” Pelosi said in a statement Thursday evening. “However, many distressing questions must still be answered about the motivations behind Father Conroy’s unwarranted and unjust dismissal.”
Crowley reiterated calls for a select committee to investigate “the events leading up to [Conroy’s] abrupt dismissal.”
“Father Pat has served the House honorably for more than seven years, and I’m glad that he will remain the House Chaplain,” Crowley said. “Still, because there are conflicting reports and questions left unanswered, we need a full understanding of what happened.”
“I hope Republicans will join Democrats to help us get the facts and ensure that something like this doesn’t happen again,” he added.
After Conroy confirmed that Ryan requested a letter of resignation, Democrats forced a vote last week to create a special committee to investigate. It was killed in a party-line vote.
In the letter rescinding his resignation, Conroy charged that Ryan dismissed him without just cause.
Ryan has maintained that multiple lawmakers brought forward complaints about their pastoral need not being met. On Thursday, Ryan accepted Conroy’s request to remain chaplain.
“To be clear, that decision was based on my duty to ensure that the House has the kind of pastoral services that it deserves,” Ryan said in a statement.
