It's proved difficult to get another Catholic (as president) into the White House, but it seems we are locking down the position of House Chaplain. Eleven years ago, after some controversial missteps, Chicago's Father Dan Coughlin, became the 59th chaplain of the House of Representatives and the first Catholic to serve in that position. Now a one-time Georgetown chaplain will apparently continue the streak.
House Speaker John A. Boehner will nominate Jesuit Father Patrick J. Conroy to become the 60th House chaplain. “We are honored that Father Conroy has agreed to serve as House chaplain,” Boehner said in a statement announcing the decision. “His dedication to God’s work, commitment to serving others and experience working with people of faith from all traditions will make him an asset to the House community.”
The nomination has to be approved by the House. If Conroy is confirmed, he will become only the third non-Protestant to serve as chaplain and the chamber’s first Jesuit chaplain. Let the Jesuit conspiracy mongering begin!
You can find out more about Conroy here and here; more about the House chaplain's role here. You can listen to an interview with Father Dan Coughlin about his time as House chaplain (avec your kind blogger) here.
*With apologies to Pat Riley ....
