[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 69 (Friday, April 27, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H3729-H3731]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE HOUSE MAJORITY'S GREAT INJUSTICE

  (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, the majority in this House has just exacted 
a great injustice. The unwarranted, unjust, forced resignation of a 
sworn officer of this United States House, the House Chaplain, Patrick 
Conroy, is a complete, complete violation of justice. It is also a 
complete violation of the rules of this House and the 229-year 
precedents of this House.
  As well, Speaker Paul Ryan's unilateral decision to remove the House 
Chaplain, who is elected by the entire membership of this House, is 
simply wrong. The Chaplain deserves just and fair treatment by every 
Member of this body that would attend to any Member who is subjected to 
such treatment or any citizen in our country who appears before the 
law. Every life in our Nation should matter.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
  Ms. KAPTUR. And the lives and reputations of the officers of this 
House should matter. Our heads should hang low today----
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman is no longer recognized.
  Ms. KAPTUR. * * *
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, Father Conroy has served this institute 
honorably for the past seven years. He is only one of two Roman 
Catholic clerics ever to have served as pastor for the U.S. House of 
Representatives since the founding of our Republic 229 years ago, of 60 
who have served. As an elected officer of this House, the Chaplain 
serves as its spiritual leader, abiding the heavy weight that the 
Chaplain bears for hundreds of Members, their families, hundreds more 
staff members, visitors and others who seek guidance and help. From 
what is trickling out in the media, this political crucifixion of 
Father Conway was executed following a visit from Speaker Paul Ryan's 
Chief of Staff in which Fr. Conway's resignation was demanded. Fr. 
Conroy complied. He transmitted a letter of resignation under coercion 
on April 15. On April 16, under cover of convoluted parliamentary 
procedure, with the vast membership of this institution unnoticed and 
unaware, Speaker Ryan requested ascension from the entire body. But who 
in this House even knew procedurally what was occurring? There was no 
notice. There was no prior House official proceeding to hear this 
matter. There was no one to object as no Member other than the Speaker 
and his inner circle knew what the Speaker was demanding.
  In such an important matter of a human being's life and reputation, 
what happened to our House Rules? What happened to regular order? This 
forced resignation is without cause. It is unprecedented. It is wrong. 
It is simply a unilateral decision and abuse of power by the Speaker 
who himself will soon leave Congress. He should hang his head. The 
Speaker solely delivered an honorable man up for political crucifixion 
without hearing or trial.
  Justice in such a consequential action demands the full attention and 
engagement of this entire House. It is not the prerogative of a single 
individual, no matter how powerful that individual may feel he is. The 
Speaker's action is a violation of the fundamental Rules of this House. 
It cannot stand the light of scrutiny. This consequential decision 
about a human being's life was summarily imposed with no justice, no 
consultation, and importantly a complete abdication of our House Rules 
and Constitutional precedents. It must be overturned. Justice and 
regular order must return to this House.


[[Page H3730]]


  

       According to the Pew Research Center, Religious `nones' are 
     underrepresented in Congress compared with U.S. adults 
     overall: Christian: 485 members, 90.7 percent of Congress, 71 
     percent of U.S. adults [(Protestant: 299, 55.9 percent, 48 
     percent; Baptist: 72, 13.5 percent, 15 percent; Methodist: 
     44, 8.2 percent, 5 percent; Anglican/Episcopal: 35, 6.5 
     percent, 1 percent; Presbyterian: 35, 6.5 percent, 2 percent; 
     Lutheran: 26, 4.9 percent, 4 percent; Congregationalist: 5, 
     0.9 percent, 1 percent; Non-denomational Protestant: 8, 1.5 
     percent, 6 percent; Pentecostal: 2, 0.4 percent, 5 percent; 
     Restorationist: 2, 0.4 percent, 2 percent; Adventist: 2, 0.4 
     percent, 1 percent; Christian Scientist: 2, 0.4 percent, <1 
     percent; Holiness: 1, 0.2 percent, 1 percent; Reformed: 1, 
     0.2 percent, <1 percent; Anabaptist: 0, 0 percent, <1 
     percent; Friends/Quakers: 0, 0 percent, <1 percent; Pietist: 
     0, 0 percent, <1 percent; Unspecified/other: 64, 12 percent, 
     5 percent) (Catholic: 168, 31.4 percent, 21 percent) (Mormon: 
     13, 2.4 percent, 2 percent) (Orthodoz Christian: 5, 0.9 
     percent, <1 percent)]; Jewish: 30, 5.6 percent, 2 percent; 
     Buddhist: 3, 0.6 percent, 1 percent; Muslim: 2, 0.4 percent, 
     1 percent; Hindu: 3, 0.6 percent, 1 percent; Unitarian 
     Universalist: 1, 0.2 percent, <1 percent; Unaffiliated: 1, 
     0.2 percent, 23 percent; Other faiths: 0, 0 percent, 2 
     percent; Don't Know/refused: 10, 1.9 percent, 1 percent. For 
     more information: ``Faith on the Hill, the religious 
     composition of the 115th Congress,'' <http://
www.pewforum.org/2017/01/03/faith-on-the-hill-115/>.''
                                  ____

       Excerpt from rule 2, section 1 of U.S. House Rules:
       Rule II other officers and officials
       Elections
       1. There shall be elected at the commencement of each 
     Congress, to continue in office until their successors are 
     chosen and qualified, a Clerk, a Sergeant-at-Arms, a Chief 
     Administrative Officer, and a Chaplain. Each of these 
     officers shall take an oath to support the Constitution of 
     the United States, and for the true and faithful exercise of 
     the duties of the office to the best of the knowledge and 
     ability of the officer, and to keep the secrets of the House. 
     Each of these officers shall appoint all of the employees of 
     the department concerned provided for by law. The Clerk, 
     Sergeant-at-Arms, and Chief Administrative Officer may be 
     removed by the House or by the Speaker.
       Page 363 of house rules and manual of 115th congress: 
     https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/HMAN-115/pdf/HMAN-115.pdf
       Excerpt form article 1 section 2 of U.S. Constitution
       The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and 
     other Officers; * * *
       The officers of the House are the Speaker, who has always 
     been one of its Members and whose term as Speaker must expire 
     with the term as a Member; and the Clerk, Sergeant-at-Arms, 
     Chief Administrative Officer, and Chaplain (I, 187), no one 
     of whom has ever been chosen from the sitting membership of 
     the House and who continue in office until their successors 
     are chosen and qualified (I, 187). In one case the officers 
     continued through the entire Congress succeeding that in 
     which they were elected (I, 244, 263). Former officers 
     include Doorkeeper (abolished by the 104th Congress, see 
     Sec. 663b, infra) and Postmaster (abolished during the 102d 
     Congress, see Sec. 668, infra). The House formerly provided 
     by special rule that the Clerk should continue in office 
     until another should be chosen (I, 187, 188, 235, 244). 
     Currently, certain statutes impose on the officers duties 
     that contemplate their continuance (I, 14, 15; 2 U.S.C. 
     5602).
       Page 13 of house rules and manual of 115th congress: 
     https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/HMAN-115/pdf/HMAN-115.pdf
____


                     [From The Hill, Apr. 27, 2018]

Dem Lawmaker Looking Into Whether Ryan Violated House Rules by Forcing 
                              Out Chaplain

                           (By Avery Anapol)

       A Democratic Ohio lawmaker is looking into whether Speaker 
     Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) violated House procedure when he sought 
     the resignation of House Chaplain Patrick Conroy.
       Rep. Marcy Kaptur told Roll Call that she believes a House 
     vote is necessary to remove a chaplain, as the position is 
     considered an ``officer of the House.''
       Conroy submitted a letter of resignation on Thursday at 
     Ryan's request, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers told The 
     Hill that Conroy was forced out by the speaker.
       ``[His departure was] more than a little suspicious,'' 
     Kaptur told Roll Call.
       The reason behind Conroy's ouster is unclear, though 
     Democratic sources told The Hill it was because Conroy 
     offered a prayer on the House floor that could have been 
     interpreted as critical of the GOP tax law, legislation 
     strongly championed by Ryan.
       Kaptur said she wants to find a bipartisan solution, which 
     could include a privileged resolution to reinstate Conroy.
       ``I don't want to make it a partisan thing,'' she said. 
     ``This is about a person and justice has to prevail.''
       ``For me as a Catholic, with everything else that has gone 
     in my church with cover-ups and all the rest, I feel a 
     special responsibility to not have someone's reputation 
     damaged,'' she said, adding that she thinks the chaplain was 
     ``deeply hurt'' by the situation.
                                  ____


                    [From Roll Call, Apr. 26, 2018]

    Kaptur Exploring Legislative Reprieve for Ousted House Chaplain

       Ohio Democrat said any legislation she proposes would be 
     bipartisan.

                         (By Lindsey McPherson)

       Rep. Marcy Kaptur does not believe Speaker Paul D. Ryan has 
     authority to remove House Chaplain Patrick J. Conroy without 
     a vote of the House. And she's exploring legislation to 
     prevent his ouster.
       Conroy submitted a letter of resignation April 15 at the 
     speaker's request that was read on the House floor the 
     following day. Ryan's spokeswoman AshLee Strong confirmed 
     that Ryan sought the Jesuit priest's resignation but did not 
     provide a reason why.
       Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-N.C., and Joe Crowley, D-N.Y., both 
     pointed to a prayer that Conroy delivered on the tax overhaul 
     as the reason he was asked to leave. Jones said he spoke with 
     Conroy and he confirmed that, saying the only intended 
     meaning of the prayer was that the tax bill should help 
     everyone.
       ``As legislation on taxes continues to be debated this week 
     and next, may all Members be mindful that the institutions 
     and structures of our great Nation guarantee the 
     opportunities that have allowed some to achieve great 
     success, while others continue to struggle,'' Conroy said his 
     Nov. 6 prayer on the House floor. ``May their efforts these 
     days guarantee that there are not winners and losers under 
     new tax laws, but benefits balanced and shared by all 
     Americans.''
       A senior GOP aide said there was not a specific prayer that 
     led to Ryan's decision. Conroy's resignation comes more than 
     five months after he delivered the prayer on the tax debate 
     but just days after Ryan announced his plans to retire from 
     Congress at the end of his term.
       ``If we cannot protect freedom of prayer on the floor of 
     the House, there is no hope for America. None,'' Jones said. 
     ``This chaplain is elected by all the members we vote on. And 
     this should be a vote by all the members for him not to be 
     here.''


                          No rule for removal?

       Like Jones, Kaptur also spoke with Conroy, who was 
     reluctant to talk about his resignation but upon her pressing 
     revealed it was a request from the speaker.
       ``I said, `But why?' and he didn't say anything,'' she 
     said. ``So I went back to my staff and . . . looked at the 
     rules of procedure for the House under the section dealing 
     with the chaplain. . . . As an officer of the House, this 
     should have consideration if there's no cause. I mean what's 
     the cause?''
       Indeed the Jefferson's Manual and Rules of the House of 
     Representatives identifies the chaplain as an officer of the 
     House, along with the speaker, clerk, sergeant-at-arms and 
     chief administrative officer. The manual says the officers 
     shall be elected at the commencement of each Congress.
       While the speaker's term expires with the conclusion of 
     each Congress, the other officers ``continue in office until 
     their successors are chosen and qualified,'' the manual says.
       ``The clerk, sergeant-at-arms, and chief administrative 
     officer may be removed by the House or by the speaker,'' the 
     manual says, while making no mention of the procedure for 
     removing the chaplain.
       If the matter should be subject to a vote it's unclear 
     whether Conroy waived that by submitting his resignation.


                          Legislative remedy?

       Kaptur is continuing to dig into the matter. The longest-
     serving woman in the House said she has not seen anything 
     like this in her nearly three dozen years serving in this 
     institution.
       ``I don't think it's fair,'' she said, calling the Conroy's 
     ouster ``more than a little suspicious.''
       Asked if there's a procedural action members could take, 
     like filing a privileged resolution reinstate Conroy, Kaptur 
     said, ``I am certainly of that mind. But I want to work on a 
     bipartisan basis. I don't want to make it a partisan thing. 
     This is about a person and justice has to prevail.''
       Kaptur said any procedural action would be about treating 
     Conroy, with the respect he deserves as an officer of the 
     House.
       ``For me as a Catholic with everything else that has gone 
     in my church with cover-ups and all the rest, I feel a 
     special responsibility to not have someone's reputation 
     damaged,'' she said.
       Kaptur said she was surprised that Ryan, who is also 
     Catholic, would make this decision. She said Conroy didn't 
     say much when she spoke with him, but noted, ``I think he's 
     deeply hurt.''


                     Group formed to vet successors

       While Kaptur and others look for ways to keep Conroy in his 
     position--Crowley, for example, is calling on Ryan to 
     reconsider his decision--conversations about the next House 
     chaplain have begun.
       Ryan has asked Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., to lead a 
     bipartisan group of members in looking at potential 
     replacements for Conroy. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, D-Mo., will 
     serve as the lead member of the group for the Democrats.
       Collins, a military chaplain for 17 years, said there's no 
     set number of members for the group yet or timeline for the 
     group to submit recommendations. He predicted it could take a 
     few months and a replacement would likely not be ready before 
     Conroy's May 24 resignation date.
       ``This decision will be on the speaker ultimately,'' 
     Collins said.
       Collins said he is not looking for candidates of a specific 
     faith, just ones who have

[[Page H3731]]

     ``a heart for people,'' relate well to others and can listen.
       Rep. Mark Walker, chairman of the Congressional Prayer 
     Caucus, is also serving on the group that will recommend the 
     next chaplain. Both he and Collins said they had no issues 
     with Conroy and were not familiar with Ryan's reason for 
     asking him to resign.
       As for successors, Walker, who served as a pastor for 
     nearly 20 years before running for Congress, said he's 
     looking for someone with a nondenominational background that 
     has a multicultural congregation or an otherwise diverse 
     background.
       The North Carolina Republican also said he'd prefer 
     ``somebody who has a little age, that has adult children, 
     that kind of can connect with the bulk of the body here, 
     Republicans or Democrats as far as what we're going through 
     back home--you've got the wife, the family, things you 
     encounter--that has some counseling experience or has managed 
     or worked with people, maybe a larger church size, being able 
     to have that understanding or that experience.''
       While Walker had initially specified someone with children 
     and said ``having somebody who's walked in those shoes I 
     think allows you to immediately relate a little bit more than 
     others.''
       Catholic priests take a vow of celibacy. Walker followed up 
     with the reporters he made his comments to clarify he was not 
     disqualifying Catholic priests because of that vow.
       ``When I say family experience I mean that you've been a 
     priest or pastor over a parishioner with families who have 
     situations, adult children, those kinds of things.''

     

                          ____________________