Patrick J. Conroy

Patrick J. Conroy (born October 31, 1950) is an American lawyer and a Jesuit priest who served as the 60th Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives. His selection was announced by the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives on May 6, 2011, and he was sworn in as the new House Chaplain May 25, 2011, following a unanimous vote by the House. Conroy delivered his first prayer as House Chaplain on May 26, 2011. In mid-April 2018, Conroy was asked to resign by House Speaker Paul Ryan, and did so with an effective resignation date of May 24, 2018. Approximately two weeks later, Conroy rescinded his resignation and announced his intention to remain in the role after objections to Ryan's actions were raised by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Speaker Ryan accepted the withdrawal of Conroy's resignation letter and reinstated him as House Chaplain on May 3, 2018.

Life and works Early life Conroy was born October 31, 1950, in Everett, Washington. When his parents divorced in 1958, he moved with his mother to Arlington, Virginia, living there until midway through his sophomore year in high school. Halfway through his sophomore year he moved back to Washington to live with his father. He transferred to Snohomish High School and graduated in 1968. His mother died on July 30, 2021, 3 days before her 99th birthday. In her instructions, she requested that Conroy "do his job". He led the Rite of Committal at her graveside on August 10, 2021.

He received a bachelor's degree from Claremont Men's College in Claremont, California, in 1972.

In 1977, he received a master's degree in philosophy from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington; in 1979, a J.D. degree from St. Louis University; in 1983, a Masters of Divinity (M.Div.) from the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University, in Berkeley, California; and in 1984, a Masters of Sacred Theology (S.T.M.) from Regis College, University of Toronto. Although described as non-religious (and therefore open to all students) the program "grows out of Georgetown's Catholic traditions ... Jesuit education is not designed to force you into a way of life imposed from the outside, but to help you discover in yourself what it is that gives you the most meaning, the most peace and the most joy", Conroy explained.

Prior to his selection as House Chaplain, he had been teaching freshman theology and coaching JV II softball at Jesuit High School in Portland, Oregon, since 2004.

House chaplain

Selection According to the Catholic Sentinel, Speaker John Boehner had positive memories of Jesuits during his time at Xavier University, and decided he preferred a Jesuit priest as the next House Chaplain.

He consulted House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who "also knows and trusts Jesuits via the University of San Francisco and having sent her son to Georgetown."

Conroy said that Jesuit spirituality focuses on making good decisions, based on the writings of St. Ignatius of Loyola in the 16th century. According to Conroy, that "could fit well in the business of the House of Representatives. I would hope I'd be able to remind everyone what they're about. They are not about winning something so someone else loses, but winning so everyone wins. They are there to serve, not to gain glory."

As a Jesuit, he lives in a Jesuit community in Washington, D.C., keeping a small amount of the salary he received to pay the amount he is charged to stay with them in addition to other basic needs, but donated the rest to his order.

On May 11, Pelosi announced she was "reconsidering" support when it was revealed that the group for which Conroy worked had paid $166 million for more than 400 claims of child sexual abuse. Boehner's reaction was to say that Conroy was vetted and that the nomination would stand. A spokesperson for Pelosi's office stated that "new information has arisen" since the initial review of Conroy's candidacy, and would be reviewed "as expeditiously as possible" with no "pre-judgment."

A number of groups supporting alleged victims of sexual abuse said that appointing any priest from the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus would be inappropriate,

Supporters of Conroy insisted he should be judged on the fact that he was never accused of abuse or molestation, not on past problems associated with others within the group. Conroy himself described the controversy like being in the middle of "a firestorm ... It's a pretty clear case of guilt by association, but my conscience is clear." Conroy resigned on April 16, 2018, with May 24 being his last day in office. According to Conroy, Speaker Ryan's office had admonished him for his prayers, as well as Ryan personally telling him: "Padre, you just got to stay out of politics." Approximately two weeks later, Conroy rescinded his resignation and announced his intention to remain in the role after objections to Ryan's actions were raised by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.