By Nancy Haught
The Oregonian
May 14, 2011
http://www.oregonlive.com/O/index.ssf/2011/05/the_rev_patrick_conroy_reflect.html
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| The Rev. Patrick Conroy, carrying his coffee, walks through the halls of Jesuit High School. |
Less than a week after the announcement that he had been nominated to become the next chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Rev. Patrick Conroy finds himself at the center of what he calls "a firestorm."
First of all, he's a Jesuit priest from the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus, which recently agreed to a $166.1 million bankruptcy settlement involving more than 500 active claims of sexual or physical abuse in five states.
"It's a pretty clear case of guilt by association," Conroy says, "but my conscience is clear."
Secondly, critics have raised the issue of a letter that Conroy wrote in 1986, which figured in the 2002 resignation of an Archdiocese of Seattle priest accused of sexual abuse.
"I did what I was supposed to do," Conroy says.
Thirdly, some people are upset that the House, whose 435 members represent the American people, has a chaplain at all.
"It's the separation of church and state argument," Conroy says, "and that's not new. It comes up all the time."
What is new for the 60-year-old is his Wikipedia page -- he's never had one before -- and the job that lies before him. If approved (and he has the backing of both House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi), Conroy will be the 60th chaplain, and second Catholic priest, to serve the House.
As Conroy prepares to leave Jesuit High School, where he's been teaching theology since 2004, he talked about how he got his new job, the chaplaincy and the controversy around his selection.
His responses have been edited for space and clarity.
I'm guessing this opening wasn't posted on Craigslist. How did you hear about it?
After the election, the current chaplain, Father (Daniel) Coughlin, let Speaker Boehner know that he wanted to retire. It's the speaker's prerogative to nominate the chaplain, but it's a bipartisan appointment.
Speaker Boehner graduated from Xavier, a Jesuit university in Cincinnati. And Mrs. (Nancy) Pelosi's husband and son were Georgetown Hoyas. Mr. Boehner wanted to have a Jesuit among the candidates for chaplain.
The president of the Jesuits contacted all the provinces. I don't know if it was an aligning of the planets, a changing of the wind, serendipity or the grace of God, but I was available. That was in November.
Did you interview for the job?
Yes. About a month ago, I met with two staffers from Mr. Boehner's office and two from Mrs. Pelosi's office -- four people. It was a very pleasant interview that lasted about 75 minutes. Then I returned to teaching freshmen theology (at Jesuit High School).
There were five candidates, and I made the cut. Last Wednesday (May 4), I had a half-hour interview with Mr. Boehner and Mrs. Pelosi and their four staffers. Then I stepped out of the room. They talked and they offered me the position.
What was the hardest question they asked you?
Well, it wasn't hard, but it was uncomfortable: If I was selected, was there anything in my past that might become an embarrassment to the speaker.
Well, I am a Jesuit, a member of the Oregon Province that was sued for clergy abuse, and some of the cases came from the Colville Indian Reservation, where I had worked. I was never accused, but my name might turn up in court documents.
The second thing was a letter I wrote to an archbishop about a young man who said a priest had propositioned him. I asked him whether anything had happened, and he said, "No." I didn't hear back from the archbishop. There was no crime committed. I did what I was supposed to do, but the letter did come out later.
Do you think the subject of clergy abuse will follow you everywhere you go?
It might. I have not heard of any Jesuit accused of abuse (that occurred) since I joined in 1973. But even knowing that, it's hard.
What about the argument that a House chaplain violates the principle of separation of church and state?
When I was back in Washington, a member of the chaplain's staff said they had a portfolio of Supreme Court cases that support the existence of a chaplain. The constitutional issue has been settled.
My understanding is that nobody in Congress is required to pray. Nobody in Congress is required to look to me for any kind of spiritual or religious help. The chaplain's job is a ministry of presence and support, not conversion.
In such a highly charged environment, where people are given great power and great responsibility that goes with it, an environment that is highly competitive and combative, it's good to have a person who's not in that dogfight, who won't talk about what you say.
I will be the chaplain for all the House staffers, for the Capitol police and security guards, for the kitchen workers and people in the mailroom. But I won't be their pastor.
How is a chaplain's role different from that of a pastor?
As chaplain, I won't be responsible for the religious life of the people working on the Hill, how they practice their faith in their respective congregations. A chaplain is not a cultic figure, but more like a counselor. They know I am capable of that. It's what I did at Georgetown and what I do here (at Jesuit High School).
So you won't pray before a session in the name of Jesus?
I never pray in the name of Jesus -- except when I'm doing something Catholic -- saying Mass, for example.
Will you live in a Jesuit community in Washington, D.C.?
I will.
I read online that the U.S. House chaplain earns more than $167,000 a year. Is that right?
That's in the ballpark.
What will you do with your paycheck?
Jesuit communities charge a per diem. In Washington, D.C., it might be $50 a day. I'll pay that. And I'll keep enough for my working budget -- something I'll decide with my provincial (supervisor) -- and the rest will go to my province. The Jesuits paid for my education. The Jesuits pay for my health care, for my housing, for my transportation when I need it.
Will it be hard to say goodbye to your students?
My parents divorced when I was 8 years old. I have been saying goodbye all my life. But I won't be going out of their lives at all. I've heard from students I knew at Georgetown who are happy I'm coming back, but I'll come back here, too.
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