Jesuit priest sworn in as new House chaplain

Jesuit priest Rev. Patrick J. Conroy on Wednesday was sworn
in as the new House chaplain, two weeks after his work for a religious order
that settled sexual abuse claims was called into question.

Conroy was sworn in by Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), who
along with fellow Catholic and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)
nominated Conroy.

“Father Pat Conroy comes with a healthy respect for what we
do,” said Pelosi during the swearing in. “It is a beautiful honor steeped in
history — deeply personal, free of politics — and we wish him every success in
that job.”

{mosads}The comments represent a change of tone for Pelosi, who
earlier this month co-nominated Conroy only to later claim Boehner failed to
thoroughly examine the background of the priest.

Referring to it as “new information,” Pelosi questioned the
Jesuit priest’s work for a Roman Catholic religious order that recently agreed
to pay $166 million to hundreds of victims of sexual abuse.

Boehner’s office subsequently dismissed Pelosi’s concerns,
and her office later said there was no evidence of any connection between
Conroy and the allegations of abuse. After further inquiry, she said she saw “no
obstacle” in preventing the chaplain’s nomination from moving forward.

It is not the first time the choice of House chaplain has
been marked by controversy.

In 2000, then-Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.) and
then-Democratic leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) established a bipartisan search
committee to find a new chaplain. Hastert later angered lawmakers — and was
accused of having an anti-Catholic bias — when he chose the Rev. Charles Parker
Wright, a Presbyterian, over a Roman Catholic priest who had reportedly
received the most bipartisan support from the committee.
 Wright
subsequently withdrew his nomination and Hastert nominated Father Daniel P.
Coughlin.

In a statement read before the House prior to Conroy’s
swearing in, departing Coughlin expressed his appreciation for the position.

“During the past 11 years, it has been my distinct honor to
serve as chaplain of the House of Representatives,” he wrote. “It has been a
true blessing for me to come to know you, members of Congress, through the
years . . . It is now time for me to retire.”

New House chaplain Conroy entered the Society of Jesus in
1973 and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1983. He previously served as a
chaplain at D.C.’s Georgetown University for 10 years, ending in 2003.

In addition to opening House proceedings with prayer, Conroy
will provide pastoral counseling, coordinate the scheduling of guest chaplains
and arrange memorial services for staff.