IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 856 

Raising a question of the privileges of the House. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 27, 2018 

Mr. CROWLEY submitted the following resolution; which was laid on the table 

RESOLUTION 

Raising a question of the privileges of the House. 

Whereas Father Patrick Conroy has served honorably as 

House Chaplain since May 25th of 2011, when he was 

appointed by Speaker John Boehner in consultation with 

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi; 

Whereas Father Conroy had been re-appointed and approved 

by the House of Representatives on three separate occasions, most recently January 3rd of 2017; 

Whereas, on April 16, 2018, the Nation’s first Jesuit, and 

only the second Catholic, Chaplain of the United States 

House of Representatives submitted his resignation before the full House; 

Whereas this resignation was forced by Paul D. Ryan, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Members of the 

House Republican Conference; 


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HRES 856 LTH 

Whereas the Speaker’s team said ‘‘. . . the decision (to remove the Chaplain) was his (Speaker Ryan’s)’’; 

Whereas the lack of notification of his forced resignation, or 

adequate explanation provided by Speaker Paul D. Ryan 

is not reflective of the integrity of the House of Representatives; 

Whereas, on November 6, 2017, during debate on the GOP 

tax scam, the Chaplain led an opening prayer asking God 

to bless Congress and for Congress to ‘‘guarantee that 

there are not winners and losers under the new tax laws, 

but benefits balanced and shared by all Americans’’; 

Whereas this prayer reflects the core values of many Americans, in particular people of the Catholic faith, including 

care and concern for the poor and the marginalized; 

Whereas, on April 9, 2018, Pope Francis published his third 

apostolic exhortation entitled ‘‘Gaudete et Exsultate’’ or 

rejoice and be heard which states that Christians must 

care for the poor, the sick, and the immigrant; 

Whereas, under the GOP tax bill, more than 80 percent of 

its benefits flow to the richest 1 percent and the corporate special interests, ignoring the needs for struggling 

men and women and children; 

Whereas this prayer has been reported to be the chief reason 

for Father Conroy’s forced resignation by the Republican 

Conference; 

Whereas the dismissal of Father Conroy following this prayer 

shows Republicans’ true refusal to embody the values of 

faith and charity in their legislative work; 

Whereas Father Conroy’s forced resignation is concerning to 

a number of Members of both sides of the aisle; 


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HRES 856 LTH 

Whereas the House of Representatives would benefit from 

being guided by a Chaplain with a commitment to caring 

about those most in need; 

Whereas the rights of Members of the House of Representatives were undermined when the leader of one party made 

a unilateral decision to dismiss the Chaplain; 

Whereas this forced resignation has compromised the dignity 

of the House of Representatives by politicizing the office 

of the House Chaplain; and 

Whereas the circumstances behind his resignation compromised the integrity and dignity of the House of Representatives: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That— 

2 (1) there is hereby established a Select Com3 mittee to investigate the actions and motivations be4 hind the resignation of the House Chaplain; 

5 (2) the Select Committee shall be comprised of 

6 six members, of which three shall be appointed by 

7 the Chair of the Committee on Ethics, and three by 

8 the Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics; 

9 and 

10 (3) the Select Committee shall investigate the 

11 motivations and actions of the Speaker behind the 

12 resignation of the House Chaplain. 

Æ 


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