Fr Conroy rescinds his resignation

In these days of Trump, we'll see many things we've never seen before.  (And hope we never see them again.)

May 3, 2018
The Honorable Paul Ryan,
Speaker, House of Representatives
H-232 The Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

RE: Immediate retraction of resignation as Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Dear Speaker Ryan:

As you know, by letter of April 15, 2018, I tendered my resignation of the position of Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives (hereinafter "House Chaplain") to you, effective May 24, 2018. At this time, and upon advice of counsel, I hereby retract and rescind said resignation for the reasons that follow.

  Politico

So begins the letter that Fr Patrick Conroy, whom Paul Ryan forced to resign for putting in a good word for poor people, wrote rescinding his resignation. Full text here.

Excerpts:

While you never spoke with me in person, nor did you send me any correspondence, on Friday, April 13th, 2018, your Chief of Staff, Jonathan Burks, came to me and informed me that you were asking for my letter of resignation. I inquired as to whether or not it was "for cause," and Mr. Burks mentioned dismissively something like "maybe it's time that we had a Chaplain that wasn't a Catholic." He also mentioned my November prayer and an interview with the National Journal Daily.

At that point, I thought that I had little choice but to resign, as my assumption was that you had the absolute prerogative and authority to end my term as House Chaplain.

Recently, on April 27, you publicly indicated that my "pastoral services" to some Members were lacking and that I did not offer adequate "spiritual counseling" to others. This is not the reason that Mr. Burks gave me when asking for my "resignation." In fact, no such criticism has ever been leveled against me during my tenure as House Chaplain.

[...]

You may wish to outright "fire" me, if you have the authority to do so, but should you wish to terminate my services, it will be without my offer of resignation, as you requested.

Ryan (whom Charlie Pierce appropriately calls the goggle-eyed granny starver) at least recognized that he ought not fight this one, even if he isn't seeking relection.

Speaker Paul Ryan Thursday reversed his decision to force House Chaplain Patrick Conroy to step down after the Jesuit priest sent a letter withdrawing his resignation and as bipartisan outrage continued to mount.

“I have accepted Father Conroy’s letter and decided that he will remain in his position as Chaplain of the House,” Ryan said in a statement. “It is my job as speaker to do what is best for this body, and I know that this body is not well served by a protracted fight over such an important post.”

[...]

Ryan has said publicly and privately that forcing Conroy to resign also had nothing to do with politics, and that he came to the decision after several members complained that their “pastoral needs” were not being met by the priest.

  Politico

Their true constituents were not happy with Fr Conroy's addressing the lack of concern for the poor in the Republican budget, I guess.

Democrats and some Republicans have also dismissed Ryan’s reasons, saying they believed the speaker was facing pressure from evangelicals within the GOP conference to find a chaplain whose politics more closely aligned with theirs.

[...]

Conroy submitted his resignation in mid-April, at the request of Ryan, with an effective date of May 24. But the controversy surrounding his departure didn’t erupt until last week, when lawmakers learned Conroy’s decision was not voluntary.

[...]

[Ryan's hatchet man Jonathan] Burks rejected [Fr. Conroy's characterization of the hit] Thursday evening.

“I strongly disagree with Father Conroy’s recollection of our conversation,” he said in a statement. “I am disappointed by the misunderstanding, but wish him the best as he continues to serve the House.”

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.