House rejects measure to set up panel to investigate chaplain's dismissal

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The House rejected a resolution on Friday that would have set up a select committee to investigate Patrick Conroy’s dismissal as House chaplain.

In a 215-171 vote, the House turned aside House Democratic Caucus Chairman Joseph Crowley’s (D-N.Y.) resolution in a mostly party-line vote.

Crowley had argued that creating the committee was necessary to look into the “motivations and actions” behind Conroy’s dismissal.

Conroy announced his retirement as chaplain earlier this month, a decision most members thought was voluntary until Thursday, when it emerged that Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) had pushed him out.

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/385198-house-rejects-measure-to-set-up-panel-to-investigate-chaplains

[elleng]

1. ;-(

House Speaker Paul Ryan just forced the House chaplain, a respected Jesuit priest, to resign - apparently for political reasons.

According to press reports, Republicans were upset with Father Patrick Conroy for not being enthusiastic enough about their tax cut bill and for once inviting a Muslim professor of religion to offer the daily prayer.

Father Conroy is not a left-wing activist; he was originally appointed by Republican speaker John Boehner and confirmed by a unanimous vote.

Congressional chaplains are supposed to be nonpartisan pastors, not Christian figureheads for the GOP agenda.

http://act.faithfulamerica.org/sign/ryan_conroy/?t=1&akid=1085%2E81534%2EpaGlNv