Paul Lyin’ Ryan, currently Speaker of the House, soon to be unemployed, had an opportunity to finish what he started the other day. Instead, fortunately, he put his tail between his legs and, sniveling in Republican fear, backed down. That makes the score: God 1 – Ryan 0.
House Speaker Paul Ryan has accepted the un-resignation of House Chaplain Patrick Conroy, who issued the speaker a scathing letter withdrawing his previously tendered resignation.
Conroy says that he never spoke to Ryan about his resignation or termination but that his chief of staff Jonathan Burks requested that the chaplain step down. Asked why, Burks reportedly responded, "Maybe it’s time we had a chaplain that wasn’t a Catholic." Burks also reportedly mentioned a prayer Conroy led in November 2017 ahead of the tax reform vote.
The chaplain had prayed for "balanced" tax reform that helps ameliorate income inequality. The tax bill that Republicans eventually passed added more than an estimated $1 trillion to the deficit while delivering the largest gains to wealthy people and corporations…
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Here is the complete transcript of Conroy’s letter.
May 3, 2018
The Honorable Paul Ryan,
Speaker, House of Representatives
H-232 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
RE: Immediate retraction of resignation as Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Dear Speaker Ryan:
As you know, by letter of April 15, 2018, I tendered my resignation of the position of Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives (hereinafter "House Chaplain") to you, effective May 24, 2018. At this time, and upon advice of counsel, I hereby retract and rescind said resignation for the reasons that follow.
I was elected as House Chaplain on May 25, 2011, and I have honorably served in that role since that time. I was re-elected House Chaplain in every succeeding Congress. I have never been disciplined, nor reprimanded, nor have I ever heard a complaint about my ministry during my time as House Chaplain. It is my desire to continue to serve as House Chaplain in this 115th United States Congress to the end of my current two-year term, and beyond,· unless my services are officially terminated (however that is properly done) or I am not re-elected to the position by the membership of the House.
While you never spoke with me in person, nor did you send me any correspondence, on Friday, April 13th, 2018, your Chief of Staff, Jonathan Burks, came to me and informed me that you were asking for my letter of resignation. I inquired as to whether or not it was "for cause," and Mr. Burks mentioned dismissively something like "maybe it’s time that we had a Chaplain that wasn’t a Catholic." He also mentioned my November prayer and an interview with the National Journal Daily.
At that point, I thought that I had little choice but to resign, as my assumption was that you had the absolute prerogative and authority to end my term as House Chaplain.
Recently, on April 27, you publicly indicated that my "pastoral services" to some Members were lacking and that I did not offer adequate "spiritual counseling" to others. This is not the reason that Mr. Burks gave me when asking for my "resignation." In fact, no such criticism has ever been leveled against me during my tenure as House Chaplain. At the very least, if it were, I could have attempted to correct such "faults." In retracting my resignation I wish to do just that.
I also write this letter because I do not wish to have my "resignation" be construed as a "constructive termination." You may wish to outright "fire" me, if you have the authority to do so, but should you wish to terminate my services, it will be without my offer of resignation, as you requested.
Since soon after I submitted my letter of April 15 I chose to remain silent about this matter despite numerous requests from the media. There has been much said in conjecture about my leaving the Chaplain’s Office, much of it damaging to the reputation of the House and the integrity of the Office of the Chaplain.
Had I known of any failure in providing my ministry to the House, I would have attempted to make the appropriate adjustments, but in no case would I have agreed to submit a letter of resignation without being given that opportunity. Therefore, I wish to serve the remainder of my term as House Chaplain, unless terminated "for cause." Please be guided accordingly and kindly provide confirmation of your recognition of this letter and my retraction of resignation no later than May 12, 2018. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Patrick J. Conroy, S.J.
Chaplain
CC: The Honorable Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader
The Honorable Karen Haas, Clerk of the House Daniel G.P. Marchese, Esq.
Perhaps, if Ryan were a Christian, he would have the conviction to stand by his actions, but he’s not. He’s a Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christian, so he lacked the integrity to tell Conroy to his face that he had fired him for being too Christian.
RESIST THE REPUBLICAN REICH!!
22 Responses to “God 1 – Ryan 0”
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Rather than firing the Chaplain, he should have supported him. Oh, wait!!! Ryan doesn’t give a sheet about the poor and folks living in poverty in this Country.
Glad that Fr. Conroy has his job back.
(wonder what Pope Francis thinks about this…??)
This would be very funny if it weren’t so pathetic. The moral of the story is “Don’t mess with a Jesuit.”
Even at least one Republican could see that Ryan was wrong – and say so:
Glad it ended with the priest prevailing and Ryan slinking away with his tail tucked between his legs.
Sad that it ever happened.
… BUT not surprised.
(God, I loathe republicans)
So I assume you are rooting for your Governor to get impeached? What a piece of work he is!
Only so long as it takes to help Sen. McCaskill get reelected!
She is much, MUCH better than ANY republican alternative.
Oh, yeah, I’m behind the Claire Bear. I know what the alternatives are like.
That’s the only thing tucked between his legs! This Ayn Randian doesn’t have the cojones to be a real Christian!
Unbelievable that Lyin’ Ryan would do this to a man of God! He is so NOT Christian that it makes my heart bleed!!! He couldn’t even fire the chaplain right!!! Ugh! These rethuglicans are destroying this country so fast that it will take TWO presidential terms to repair this country and then, it may not be right with the rest of the world!
I have received two new friend requests that have me troubled. One that lists the “home” as the Russian Federation and has interests in female companionship. Just a little creepy to this married old woman in Oklahoma! Anyway, let me know if ya have any similar requests.
Thanks again, TC! See ya in FF!
Would those friend requests be on Care2? Yeah, I’ve gotten a couple of those. I tried to decline one but the profile was even hidden, so I am now just leaving them in my inbox in case there’s a call for evidence. I guess some people do just accept everything – I never have (and never will) accept unless I know who it is.
i delete them Joanne.
Also good.
I’ve had similar requests in the past, but they stopped after I reported them to Care2 as spam and blocked them from contact. Care2 quickly took them down, but I suppose there’s little else they can do but react to our notifications of spam.
I get them frequently. I report, block and delete.
i’m finding it a little difficult looking at that photo & keeping my breakfast down! ?
Yes, that photo of Ryan is priceless! what a poor excuse for a human! For a person who professes to be religious! And, why DOES congress need a Chaplin, and bible study, especially?
A question I’ve asked here too, Mitch. A religious official on the payroll for religious duties, and representing only one faith, doesn’t seem to be in the spirit of the separation between church and state.
A chaplain may be a member of one faith, but he represents all. The separation of Church and State forbids the establishment of a single state religion. An exclusively Catholic Congressional Priest would violate the principal. A Chaplain, who would volunteer to read The Bible, The Koran, The Talmud, The Vedas, or The God Delusion (Scripture for Atheists) with you, does not violate that principal.
I agree with Mitch that Bible studies are a bad idea, and would be a worse idea if they were required. And TC is spot on about the chaplaincy. And a Jesuit would be just the priest to fit that profile – I’m basing my statement[s] on the purposes for the founding of the orders and the perceptions of what they do, which means I am playing off stereotypes, so don’t take me too seriously – whereas a Dominican would be a bad idea. A Franciscan would be my second choice after a Jesuit. With secular priests (which sounds like an oxymoron, but is the term for a priest who is not a member of any monastic order), there is a mixed bag. Outside the Catholic church, a UU (Unitarian Universalist) would probably be closest to the spirit of the founders, bu would be a hard sell, especially to Republicans – so far have we come from the founders’ spirit. I’m not saying any denomination couldn’t have a clergyperson who could do it, but it comes easier to some than to others.
I agree. When I spoke of reading the Scriptures of the Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Atheist religions, the venue I imagined was one on one counselling or fellowship, not group study and especially NOT mandatory.
Protestant or Catholic Christian, Muslim or Jew or Buddhist, a properly trained chaplain should be able to administer to anyone in need. The job is about helping people find peace in difficult situations. Having said that, the idea that a religious counsel is needed in a body that should represent the separation of church and state is absurd. Let those members seek counsel from their own faith leader outside of the government.
God 1 – Lyin’ Ryan 0 — Very appropriate!!!
Kudos to Father Walter B Jones, SJ for standing up to Ryan!
Thanks all. Hugs!