A group dedicated to enforcing its version of the separation of church and state has reported Peoria bishop Daniel Jenky to the IRS after the prelate delivered a fiery homily in which he compared Obama to Hitler and Stalin.
The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State filed a formal complaint with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) accusing him of violating federal law by intervening in a political campaign. Lynn claims Jenky’s address at a mens’ march on April 15 urged Catholics to vote against Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential election.
During the homily, Bishop Jenky said: “Hitler and Stalin, at their better moments, would just barely tolerate some churches remaining open, but would not tolerate any competition with the state in education, social services and health care. In clear violation of our First Amendment rights, Barack Obama – with his radical, pro-abortion and extreme secularist agenda – now seems intent on following a similar path.”
He added: “This fall, every practicing Catholic must vote, and must vote their Catholic consciences, or by the following fall our Catholic schools, our Catholic hospitals, our Catholic Newman Centers, all our public ministries – only excepting our church buildings – could easily be shut down.”
In the IRS complaint, Lynn wrote: “Bishop Jenky compared Obama to Hitler and Stalin and accused him of pursuing policies that will close Catholic institutions. Moments later, he exhorted members of his flock not to vote for candidates who fail to uphold Catholic values. It is impossible to interpret this as anything but a command to vote against Obama.”
Even though he admits that Jenky never uttered the words, “Do not vote for Obama,” he reminded the IRS that their code “makes it clear that statements need not be this explicit to run afoul of the law.”
Patricia Gibson, chancellor of the Diocese of Peoria, defended Jenky and accused Lynn of taking the bishop’s words out of context.
“Based upon the current government’s threatened infringement upon the Church’s religious exercise of its ministry, Bishop Jenky offered historical context and comparisons as a means to prevent a repetition of historical attacks upon the Catholic Church and other religions.
“Bishop Jenky gave several examples of times in history in which religious groups were persecuted because of what they believed,” Gibson said. “We certainly have not reached the same level of persecution. However, history teaches us to be cautious once we start down the path of limiting religious liberty.”
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
I love Bishop Jenky’s holy boldness in speaking the truth.
I thank Bishop Jenky for his courageous stand for our Religious Liberties. I have deep respect and admiration for him in speaking about the travesties of past times and that history does repeat itself. So many are ignorant of history and the grave consequences that faced those who stood in the wake of tyranny and what that tyranny was. The Bishop brought this to light and I can only urge him to stand by his convictions. We so desperately need his leadership in the Church today along with the leadership of all of our bishops to stand as one voice for the faithful of God. Catholics are so confused because there are too many different voices. We need to speak as one voice. Again thank you, Bishop Jenky. You have my support. You speak for me. I am praying for you and my dear, dear country that I love so much. God bless you.
We all need to send supportive prayers and commentary to Bishop Jenky now that he is suffering for the truth! We hear him and we rejoice that he has the courage to stand up to one of the worst administrations in US history!
And where were these Separation of Church and state types when nuns were campaigning against Governor Walker in Wisconsin? Or the nuns who were protesting FOR abortion? They’re AWFULLY SILENT NOW!
Remember, if it advances Marxism, then Separation of Church and State is enforced. Otherwise, it is OK for Church and State be in the same bed.
I wholeheartedly agree with the Bishop as a devout Catholic and feel that it is high time that someone in his position remind the Catholic “flock” where their consciences should be at this crucial, “standing on the precipice…” moment where Obama has the potential of being elected for a second term, and if elected, our nation will be destroyed. Cardinal Burke even had words to this effect recently on EWTN. The laity must vote against such a pro-abortion President or America may soon experience the effects of what happened under Hitler and Stalin .