Boehner: ‘Catholic Guilt’ Swayed Paul Ryan on Speakership

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Speaker John Boehner says he used “Catholic guilt” to persuade Paul Ryan to run for speaker.

On CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday Boehner said he invoked God to persuade his fellow Catholic from refusing to run for speaker to agreeing to do so.

Boehner says he told Ryan: “‘This isn’t about what you want to do. It’s about what God wants you to do. And God has told me, he wants you to” run for speaker.

Ryan did – and won. The Wisconsin congressman has insisted that he will not give up time with his family or stop sleeping in his office in Washington. Boehner, meanwhile, stepped down, inspired by spending time with Pope Francis last month.