Father Conroy sworn in as House chaplain after weathering 'firestorm'

Oregon's Father Patrick Conroy was sworn in Wednesday as House chaplain, making the 60-year-old priest the first Jesuit to hold the position and also the first candidate who needed to navigate around the Catholic church's recent history.

"It’s clear this loyal servant of the faithful is uniquely suited to serve as chaplain of the people’s House," Speaker John Boehner said, noting that the chaplain "is the anchor of the House."

"Leader Pelosi and I have gotten a chance to know Father Pat, and we’re honored that he has accepted our invitation to serve as chaplain," Boehner said.

"We are blessed to have his guidance and his wisdom as we discharge our duties and fulfill our obligations to current and future generations of Americans.  Please join me in welcoming and congratulating the 60th chaplain of the House of Representatives, Father Pat Conroy.”

Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi raised questions about Conroy after learning that the branch of the church he led - the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus - agreed to a $166.1 million bankruptcy settlement involving more than 500 active claims of sexual or physical abuse in five states. While she stopped short of rejecting his appointment, Pelosi briefly delayed it by asking for additional information. Once that matter was clarified Pelosi gave Conroy her full support.

Though the dust-up was brief and ended well for Conroy, he referred to it as a "firestorm" that exposed the extent to which the cases remain connected to the modern church.

But while Conroy is popular among parishioners in Oregon, his route to Capitol Hill was bumpy.

In the end, none of it stood in the way as Conroy was unanimously approved.

He now becomes the 60th House chaplain and succeeds Father Daniel Coughlin, who retired last month after 11 years in the position. The duties are both ceremonial and practical, including opening each session with a prayer, presiding over memorials and other ceremonies and providing pastoral counseling.

Conroy entered the Society of Jesus in 1973 and was ordained a priest in 1983. He has also served as a chaplain at Georgetown University.

Conroy, who leaves Oregon as a popular teacher, coach and adviser at Jesuit High School in Beaverton, remained humble throughout the process.

"One does not aspire to become the chaplain to a chamber of Congress," he said in a statement earlier this month released by the high school. "This opportunity to serve is an extraordinary gift, and I hope to be worthy of the trust the Speaker of the House and the Minority Leader are extending to me. 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."

Conroy graduated from Claremont Men's College in California in 1972.  He has three master's degrees in philosophy (Gonzaga University, Spokane, 1977),  divinity (Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, 1983)  and sacred theology (Regis College of the University of Toronto, 1984)  and a law degree from St. Louis University (1979).  

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