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 occa-
sions, 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 be-
fore the full House; 
Whereas this resignation was forced by Paul D. Ryan, Speak-
er of the House of Representatives and Members of the 
House Republican Conference; 
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Whereas the Speaker’s team said ‘‘. . . the decision (to re-
move 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 Rep-
resentatives; 
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 Ameri-
cans, 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 cor-
porate 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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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 Representa-
tives 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 com-
promised the integrity and dignity of the House of Rep-
resentatives: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That— 
(1) there is hereby established a Select Com-
mittee to investigate the actions and motivations be-
hind the resignation of the House Chaplain; 
(2) the Select Committee shall be comprised of 
six members, of which three shall be appointed by 
the Chair of the Committee on Ethics, and three by 
the Ranking Member of the Committee on Ethics; 
and 
(3) the Select Committee shall investigate the 
motivations and actions of the Speaker behind the 
resignation of the House Chaplain. 
Æ 
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