Speaker of the House Paul Ryan is facing fire for forcing the House Chaplain to resign. Various sources deliver differing reasons for the termination, but critics are all in agreement that Ryan is wrong.
“As you have requested, I hereby offer my resignation as the 60th Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives,” House Chaplain Patrick Conroy wrote in an the April 15 letter to Speaker Ryan. The Hill obtained a copy of the letter, and reports, “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.”
One “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,” The Hill adds.
Another source told The Hill some “conservative evangelical Republicans didn’t like that the Father had invited a Muslim person to give the opening prayer.”
Whatever the reason, many Democratic and Republican lawmakers are furious. Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says she told Speaker Ryan she objected to the termination and believed he would not go through with it once she voiced her disapproval.
Outside the House, many others are expressing upset and anger.
UPDATE: ‘RELIGIOUS FREEDOM’ REPUBLICANS REJECT RESOLUTION TO INVESTIGATE WHY RYAN FIRED HOUSE CHAPLAIN
Jesuit priest and editor at large of America magazine, James Martin, SJ:
The famous “Nun on a Bus,” Sister Simone Campbell:
More responses:
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