By Rob Hotakainen
News Tribune
June 5, 2011
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/06/05/1694568/chaplain-from-washington-state.html
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| The Rev. Patrick Conroy will take on a multi-denominational flock as the new chaplain for the U.S. House of Representatives. His duties include an opening prayer each day and counseling legislators and staff. He is shown Tuesday in his office at the U.S. Capitol. |
WASHINGTON – The Rev. Patrick Conroy says he won't be trying to convert anyone as he gets rolling as chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives, which includes 39 Jews, three Buddhists and two Muslims.
But he says he'll need "a radical reliance upon the grace of God" in his new job with such a high-powered flock, relying "not just on the breadth of my experience and the cleverness I have."
Conroy, known as Father Pat, is the first Jesuit and the second Catholic priest to take the position. He's the first chaplain from Washington state, born in Everett and graduated from Snohomish High School in 1968.
As House chaplain, Conroy will open the daily proceedings with a prayer, and he will provide pastoral counseling to House members and their staffs. Chaplains have even performed marriage and funeral ceremonies.
Conroy, 60, studied political science in college and at one point dreamed of a life in politics, even of running for the U.S. Senate. Now he said he just wants to avoid political discussions and try to stop the arguments that take place in his head.
"What I've noticed as I've gotten older is that whenever I do enter into political thought and political discussion, personally I get more and more upset," Conroy said in an interview in his Capitol office. "I have my political opinions, and I can't understand how anybody else would have anything different. And so often, I'd find myself arguing in my head with people that I would disagree with, and I'd get upset about it. … I don't think that's good for me, and I don't know if I need that stress anymore."
When he thought about applying for the job, he said, he considered it "a gift from God, precisely because it would be a challenge to me, and an invitation to me to let go of that stuff. … I never really learned how to disagree with people as graciously as I would like to."
Conroy, who was ordained in 1983, is the 60th House chaplain since 1789 and only the sixth in the past 90 years. He succeeds the Rev. Daniel Coughlin, a Roman Catholic priest who resigned in mid-April after 11 years and then recommended Conroy as his successor.
While some question why the House even needs a chaplain, Conroy said his job does not violate the separation of church and state.
"No member of Congress is required to pray," he said. "No member of Congress is expected to pray. I'm not proselytizing. … I'm merely here to do the job that I've been asked to do by the people's House."
Conroy, who has a master's degree in philosophy from Gonzaga University, will earn $178,000. He joked that he tripled his salary, but it will go to the Jesuits, who pay for his housing and expenses.
The House confirmed Conroy on a unanimous vote May 25, but not before leaders raised questions regarding his membership in the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus. In March, the group was ordered to pay $166 million to more than 400 victims of sexual abuse by its priests in Washington state, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska and Montana.
Some of the abuse allegations came from the Colville Indian Reservation, where Conroy once worked. Conroy, who was never accused of any wrongdoing, called it a clear case of "guilt by association."
During his interview with House leaders, Conroy said, he also was asked about a letter that he wrote in 1986, in which he said that a young boy had told him he had been molested by a priest in the Archdiocese of Seattle. That ultimately led to the priest's resignation, but not until 2002. Critics said that Conroy should have contacted the police and followed up with the archbishop when nothing happened immediately.
"We send a hurtful message to crime victims and their loved ones … if we knowingly promote someone who didn't call the police when he suspected possible child abuse," said Peter Isely, a board member with the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests.
Conroy said "there was nothing else to do" because the boy didn't want anyone else to know.
"The victim did not want to go public. … You can't arrest somebody if there's no victim," he said.
His explanation satisfied House leaders.
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