"As legislation on taxes continues to be debated this week and next, may all Members be mindful that the institutions and structures of our great Nation guarantee the opportunities that have allowed some to achieve great success, while others continue to struggle. May their efforts these days guarantee that there are not winners and losers under new tax laws, but benefits balanced and shared by all Americans." -Rev. Patrick Conroy, S.J.,(former) chaplain of the House of Representatives.
As a graduate of a Jesuit institution and an anti-hunger and anti-poverty advocate, I am proud of Father Patrick Conroy for the genuine and substantive prayers he offered during his tenure as chaplain of the House of Representatives.
Father Conroy's words went beyond the generic prayers of wishing for well-being. In much the same way as fellow Jesuit, Pope Francis, Father Conroy's prayers carried a deep desire for justice and the concept of shalom (the well-being of all society).
By all accounts, Father Conroy was ousted by Speaker Paul Ryan for making his prayers "too political." (If we think of the concept of universal well-being as "political," then The Beatitudes fell in that category, didn't they?)
Regardless, Thank You Father Conroy!
For more background, read what others have written (or tweeted):
If the comments by the congressional aide quoted by @thehill are accurate--"[T]he speaker was dismayed by a prayer Father Conroy gave"--then a Catholic Speaker of the House fired a Catholic chaplain for praying for the poor. https://t.co/eDdzeaKexI— James Martin, SJ (@JamesMartinSJ) April 26, 2018
- Barbara Williams-Skinner in Sojourners magazine
- Syndicated Columnist Dana Milbank of The Washington Post.
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