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By NANCY HAUGHT
c. 2011 Religion News Service
(RNS) A Jesuit will be sworn in as the 60th chaplain of the House of Representatives on May 25, when he will become the first member of his order and second consecutive Catholic priest to serve the House.
As chaplain, the Rev. Patrick Conroy will be in charge of opening House sessions with prayer, coordinating guest chaplains, counseling members of the House community and arranging memorial services, weddings and funerals.
“One does not aspire to become the chaplain to a chamber of Congress,” Conroy, 60, said in a statement released on Friday (May 6).
“I am also humbled by the confidence my Jesuit superiors are demonstrating in making me available to answer this call to serve the People’s House,” he added.
Conroy was selected by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who consulted with Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Both are Catholics.
“We are honored that Father Conroy has agreed to serve as House chaplain,” Boehner said in a statement. “His dedication to God’s work, commitment to serving others and experience working with people of faith from all traditions will make him an asset to the House community.”
Conroy has master’s degrees in philosophy, divinity and sacred theology, and a law degree from St. Louis University in Missouri.
In the 1980s, he was pastor of several Washington missions and parishes, and later was chaplain at Georgetown University in Washington, for nearly a decade. He will celebrate his 28th year as a Jesuit on June 11.
(Nancy Haught writes for The Oregonian in Portland, Ore.)
posted May 9, 2011 at 7:30 pm
It’s a position that should not exist, or at least some of its responsibilities should not exist. But politics being what they are it’s not going away soon so I hope Conroy can fill the position with some grace and respect for all belief systems and philosophies.
Pingback: Jesuit to become chaplain to House of Representatives
posted May 10, 2011 at 1:23 pm
He is a Jesuit, not to worry.
posted May 10, 2011 at 2:33 pm
At least the Jesuits are the “UCC” of the RCC. This guy is OK from what I know of him, and will not abuse the privilege or role.
posted May 13, 2011 at 10:49 pm
Perhaps one Jesuit less qualified than Fr. Patrick Conroy is Jesuit Fr. Jerold Lindner, who served in pedophilia-plagued Cardinal Mahony’s archdiocese from 1982 to 1997 at the Jesuit Loyola High School, Los Angles. Fr. Lindner is in the national news because he was allegedly struck in 2010 by a man who Lindner allegedly abused 35-years ago when the man was a child. Lindner also served as an assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 1193 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, near the Loyola High campus.
Alleged serial sex abuser Fr. Lindner, with $2 million paid out by the Jesuit Order in regard to his sex abuse settlements may have had five decades of Boy Scout affiliation from the 1950s and into the 1990s or later. Lindner joined the Boy Scouts in the 1950s and had a troop of 75 Boy Scouts in 1962 when he was only 18. Lindner advanced to be the Boy Scout Chaplain for the Catholic Committee on Scouting, Los Angles Area Council in 1994.
posted May 17, 2011 at 3:01 pm
It is amazing how quickly Congress forgets history. There was a time when Congress agreed to condemn Jesuits for their subversive plans to take over the United States of America. They were banned from many countries for the same reason.
Knowing the Jesuits prosecuted the inquisition does not give any warm fuzziness’s.
posted May 17, 2011 at 5:16 pm
In regards to “working with people of faith from all traditions” the Bible tells us in John 14:6 Jesus answered “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”.
posted May 18, 2011 at 3:49 am
Like the bible says…many will be blinded because they refused the truth, G-d will send a lie and they will believe it. The last days prophecy is apostasy in the church and hate for the Jews using lies about Israel..Genesis 12″3 is still in the bible, from a G-d who cannot lie and says He doesn’t change, no shadow of turning. Anyone who thinks the old crusaders are gone is blinded, they are back full force to lead as many to Rome and destruction. Having or seeing Gov, the Catholic all working together using communism which is socialim that fulled Germany is happening all over the world..G-d will fulfill all His Word and we are seeing that more each day. How sad that people cab cgabge ge wirkd ir add to it against G-d’s Word after HE tell us HIS Word will never chage and tells us those who change it one dot or tittle is cursed. How anyone can believe a mere man over G-d’s Word is beyond me. Keep praying for the flocks that have been led by wolves in as G-d warned us all….and pray for the peace of Jerusalem, G-d’s heart the family we were GRAFTED INTO and never will replace..