Bishop’s comments on president prove controversial
“How often do you pray for the president?” asks Preparethe-Word scripture commentator Alice Camille. Instead of a prayer for Barack Obama, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria, Illinois compared the president’s policies on religious freedom to those of Stalin and Hitler . . .
“How often do you pray for the president?” asks PreparetheWord scripture commentator Alice Camille in discussing themes of leadership in the Sunday readings. Instead of a prayer for Barack Obama, Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria, Illinois made a comparison from the pulpit between the president’s policies on religious freedom to those of Stalin and Hitler that has led to some heated criticisms, including a formal complaint filed with the IRS alleging the diocese violated its tax-exempt status. The diocese said the bishop’s statement haD been taken out of context.
Jenky’s April 15 homily criticized actions proposed by the Obama administration regarding coverage of contraceptives in healthcare insurance plans. The bishop included those policies in a litany of government challenges the Catholic Church has overcome in previous centuries, including actions by Hitler and Stalin.
The Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, filed the IRS complaint last week, accusing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria of violating federal law by intervening in a political campaign.
Faculty at the University of Notre Dame have petitioned for a clear and strong retraction from the bishop, who is a member of university's sponsoring Congregation of Holy Cross, or his removal from the university’s board of overseers, and the Anti-Defamation League wants the bishop to apologize for making the comparison between the president and those who practiced wholesale genocide.
A spokeswoman for the diocese responded to the criticism by saying the bishop’s statements were misunderstood. “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,” said Patricia Gibson, chancellor of the Peoria Diocese.
Jenky’s April 15 homily criticized actions proposed by the Obama administration regarding coverage of contraceptives in healthcare insurance plans. The bishop included those policies in a litany of government challenges the Catholic Church has overcome in previous centuries, including actions by Hitler and Stalin.
The Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, filed the IRS complaint last week, accusing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria of violating federal law by intervening in a political campaign.
Faculty at the University of Notre Dame have petitioned for a clear and strong retraction from the bishop, who is a member of university's sponsoring Congregation of Holy Cross, or his removal from the university’s board of overseers, and the Anti-Defamation League wants the bishop to apologize for making the comparison between the president and those who practiced wholesale genocide.
A spokeswoman for the diocese responded to the criticism by saying the bishop’s statements were misunderstood. “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,” said Patricia Gibson, chancellor of the Peoria Diocese.
Sources: Articles by the Associated Press, The Huffington Post, and Manya A. Brachear for the Chicago Tribune