What happened to those homilies about the prodigal son and rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar’s? Parishioners were surprised with this Sunday’s homily by Peoria Bishop Daniel Jenky comparing President Barack Obama’s health care policies to policies of Adolf Hitler and Josef Stalin.
During the Sunday homily at St. Mary’s Cathedral Jenky noted that previous governments that “tried to force Christians to huddle and hide only within the confines of their churches . . . 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.”
Some have objected that the church should lose its tax exempt status over such advocacy. However, this is less political as hysterical. Churches are allowed to sermonize on public issues and condemn what they view as attacks on their faith.
What is more interesting is the response by Diocese Chancellor Patricia Gibson who insisted that Jenky had merely “offered historical context and comparisons as a means to prevent a repetition of historical attacks upon the Catholic Church and other religions.” A “repetition of historical attacks upon the Catholic Church”? That sounds like reaffirming this bizarre analogy. Gibson assured people, however, that “[w]e have currently not reached the same level of persecution. But Bishop Jenky would say that history teaches us to be cautious. … (He) is concerned that our government is truly treading on one of our most dear freedoms, which is religious freedom.” Well Jenky sure found his audience.
I would venture to suggest that there is a little distance between a squabble over health care and genocidal authoritarian regimes. But that is just me.
Source: Chicagoist
BC,
Do you know what will happen to the Catholic Church when they lose their tax exempt status? Be careful what you wish for.
No tax exempt status for anybody. And since when does the Vatican get to be considered an independent state? How about the Protestants? Do they get their own independent state?
Swarthmore,
That bishop hasn’t skipped too many meals.
Arthur Randolph Erb bleated: “it is time to revoke the Catholic Church’s tax exempt status. I am damned tired of having to pay more property taxes to pay for services they get for free off of MY money. I am also damned tired of having the GOP get tax credit for charitable contributions for their political party.”
Waaah… revoking the tax exempt status would actually be doing a church a favor, since that would remove control the gov’t had concerning the church. (What happened to separation of church and state – oh… that is only used inversely, by atheists)
You’ll have to revoke the tax exempt status of all the leftwing liberal groups as well. I don’t want my tax money going toward leftwing liberal nutjob policies.
The Catholic Church owns massive amounts of property which is tax exempt and forces the rest of us to take up the slack. I see BC is also ignorant as well since the so called left wing groups are scrupulous about their statements and policies, unlike the Church. If they cross the line of tax exempt rules they know damn well they will be shut down. The Catholic Church has NO such fear.
AY,
What do you think church consists of? It’s a social community. If you can’t manage that society, don’t go there.
Any opinion coming from this giant pig of a man, a horrible sinner and glutton, can be dismissed out of hand. He has damaged his brain, his body and his morals with sin.
Blouise, He looks like he is invited out to dinner every night and in his spare time he imbibes in the communion wine.
There are some orders that yours becomes the community…. In this case his was his to keep and do with as he pleased…..
AY,
If it was family money, that’s up to him and his family.
SwM,
He’s one of the former and probably spends a great deal of time bending his elbow with those members of his congregation in agreement with his politics. He doesn’t look like he spends much time on the golf course.
Matt,
It was family money….. It was not church property…he did not like the house provided by the church, so he had one built to his satisfaction….
Blouise, At one time I had a lot of family in this bishop’s diocese so he particularly irked me.
MJ,
God knows.
(One can take that two ways, as an exclamation of agreement or as an assurance of knowledge. In this case, both apply. 😉 )
SwM,
(I posted this but got it on the wrong thread … it was meant to follow my criticism of certain priests.)
That being said. I have known some truly dedicated priests who follow their vows and tend their flock with devotion.
I have worked with both types and prefer the latter.
Blouise,
If somebody else is providing the car and other items as a gift, that needs to be disclosed.
a wealthy parish
Blouise, They usually assign the priest to the parish that suits him. If he is a money man, he is assigned to wealthy parish. Most parishes are not wealthy. Many are very poor. In texas we have mission parishes.
If one’s relatives buy the car, pay the insurance, and provide the credit card used for gas and repairs, then the priest, who is the only allowed to drive the car, can appear to be following his vows and he drives to the Country Club to play golf with his parishioners. Golf is usually followed by drinks in the bar and dinner which, of course, is always paid for by someone other than our vow of poverty priest.
Bless me father.
OS,
It isn’t personal when he’s speaking to his congregation.
Matt Johnson, Most drive inexpensive cars.I have know quite a few and have observed how they live.