Paul Ryan’s firing of the official House Chaplain is drawing outrage from House Democrats and even some House Republicans but his refusal to explain why he forced Father Patrick Conroy to “retire” has led to many questions and few answers.
As it turns out, Father Conroy, a Catholic priest, is pro-gay. In a YouTube video Conroy expresses clear support for same-sex relationships. He says it’s “self-evident” that “human sexuality isn’t just about” procreation. “It’s about so much more.”
On Friday Politico featured a story on Conroy with this caption on a photo: “In this June 2016 photo, Father Patrick Conroy delivers a message as members of Congress join the LGBT Congressional Staff Association and the Congressional Muslim Staff Association for a prayer and moment of silence on the steps of the Capitol following the shooting at Orlando’s Pulse night club.”
The Politico story exposes allegations within the House Republican caucus of anti-Catholic discrimination.
“One Republican lawmaker called the whole thing ‘stupid’ and argued that it showed evidence of bias in the GOP Conference against Catholics. The person said some lawmakers wanted a more energetic person to minister to them and someone who could relate to having a wife and family.”
And one far right Republican congressman who is also a Baptist preacher made what some perceive as anti-Catholic remarks.
To replace Father Conroy, Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC) said, “I’m looking for somebody who has a little age, that has adult children, that kind of can connect with the bulk of the body here, Republicans and Democrats who are going through, back home the wife, the family … that has some counseling experience.”
Catholic priests take a vow of chastity and cannot marry.
“Now it’s Catholics versus Evangelicals,” the person said. “They want someone who is more Billy Graham.”
Politico notes that Congressman Peter King, (R-NY), “scolded” Rep. Walker for the anti-Catholic comments as Ryan’s meeting about firing the House Chaplain “devolved into drama.”
Democrats on Friday filed a resolution to establish a committee to investigate why Speaker Ryan fired Father Conroy. While every Democrat voted for it, almost every House Republican voted against it. It was defeated, 215-171.
The prevailing wisdom is Speaker Ryan fired Conroy for a pray he delivered as the House began debate on President Trump’s tax cuts for the rich bill that some perceived to be reminding Republicans what the Bible says about helping the poor.
On social media, many are noting that Republicans who supposedly are outraged when a Christian baker gets sued for refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex couple’s wedding see no hypocrisy in their own refusal to stand up against the firing of a Catholic priest.