Which is funny, because he might have just Godwined his own tax return.
Americans United is calling for an IRS investigation of the Peoria Catholic Diocese after Biship Jenky gave a homily in mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral in which he 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.
Well, it’s nice to know a) Hitler and Stalin had better moments (I did not know that) and b) American United attends churches looking out for this sort of violation.
The AU complaint states:
“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.”
The full press release from American United is here.
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Revoke his tax exempt status and send him a huge bill. This such blatant politicing that even a blind man could see it.
reminds me of the joke,
do I look goofy to you
–No, Goofy’s taller and a lot better looking.
Please let’s not make a Federal Case out of it!
The world would be a better place if churches did not have tax exemptions.
OK, he has a beard and cheeks. Pareidolia much?
Look, asshat. If your church and its members have some moral obligation to provide services to those in need, as per Matthew 25:35
then it is YOUR obligation to make the sacrifices. It is a call to share YOUR time and YOUR money with your fellow man.
When did xtian charity become a way for you to receive taxpayers money so you could then turn around, discriminate against those who don’t share your beliefs and then cry “Persecution! Persecution!” when you are told you cannot discriminate on the taxpayers dime?
I suppose Bishop Jenky never heard of the Reichskonkordat, or conveniently forgot. That’s the agreement between Hitler and the Catholic church that allowed the RCC to continue it’s educational programs, among other things. I never heard of Hitler closing churches or church schools, at least not the big name one’s in Germany (Catholic, Lutheran).
So, the good bishop is ill-informed on many scores, and he’s an idiot for promoting political agendas from the pulpit. May his church’s tax exemption burn in hell.
Ok, this dude just said that Obama is like Hitler and Stalin because they used state powers to go after churches. So in response, You and AU want to use state powers to go after him and his church? Are you and AU trying to prove him right!!??
Well, the pope practically called American nuns “feminazis” so I think we are all on the same page hyperbolicly speaking.
#3 Zeno:
I’d love the Dems to completely seize the US Federal gubbmint this November and pass “An Act for Financial Transparency of Religious and Non-profit Organizations”, requiring same to open their books to public scrutiny at all times, nothing hidden including names of employees, donors, and bribees. I can just see the grifters all running for cover when their persistent pocketing of donations becomes public knowledge.
You may be right in favoring an end to their tax exemptions, but sometimes the most effective way to slice a length of salami is “very thinly”. Such an act might be a good first step.
It would be amusing to rebut objections to financial transparency with “if you haven’t done anything wrong, you have nothing to hide and nothing to fear.”
It might also block the Redbird Dolans of the world from hiding church assets from victims of abuse.
Yeah, because in both cases, “going after” means exactly the same. These idiots could say whatever political crap they wanted, if they weren’t tax exempt.
In WA state, the Catholic Church is sending around petitions to their churches to be signed to overturn gay marriage that was passed in earlier this year. How more blatant can you get?
If by “going after,” you mean “make them pay the same taxes that any other organization engaged in political lobbying would have to pay,” then yes. However, it sounds like you’re just crying about being repressed because the church wouldn’t have special privileges anymore, and we can’t have that, can we.
captain, I think he might just be confused about balance. (Thinking that somehow there should be some.) If the goaler can’t be locked up by the rightfully convicted, then the world is not a fair place!!!!11!!
IIRC that’s permissible for a 501(c)(3), at least in many circumstances. It’s legitimate, within limits, to advocate for specific issues. What’s not ok is to advocate for a specific political candidate.
The beard is definitely Myers’ but the smile is distinctively Dennett’s.
I suspect a love child.
New rule: No one who belongs to an organization headed by a German who wore a Nazi uniform and served in Hitler’s army gets to call anyone else a Nazi.
“Barack Obama – with his radical, pro-abortion and extreme secularist agenda…”
That “Extreme Secularist Agenda”. Does he mean like ending every speech with “Gawd bless YOU, and Gawd BLESS the Yoo-Knighted States!”?
Yeah, should lose his tax exempt status, but Holder and the IRS won’t do shit to him because, well, because Jeebus!
+1 quoderatdemonstrandum!
quoderatdemonstrandum: I’m no fan of the Catholic church (and definitely not of Nazis, I have personal family reasons there). But that’s a low blow towards Benedict.
Like everyone else in Germany he was drafted into the Nazi army at the age of 16 and forced to serve by pain of death. (Desertion was a death sentence, often immediate and without trial.) He never went to the front lines and I don’t know of any evidence that he was involved with combat in any way. His cousin had Down Syndrome and was euthanized by the Nazi eugenics program. As far as I can tell he was a victim of the Nazi Party, not a supporter.
If you have any evidence that he actually supported the Nazis, volunteered, or participated in any of their more sinister programs let me know.
That is… fucked up.
OMG – is it just me, or would Greg (+ beard and mitre) look like a long lost brother of PZ and Jenky??? just sayin’ 🙂
Calling this a violation of the law and calling for the revocation of the church’s tax-exempt status is a stretch.
“The world would be a better place if churches did not have tax exemptions.”
I agree. It certainly would open up churches to be able to fully speak out about political issues in the pulpit and you wouldn’t have any way to threaten them into silence.
i think the bishop was being very generous i refer to obama as the anti Christ so all you cry baby that love him so well keep it up you will be in the samr boat as eroupe wake up all he daoes he lie to you all his word is no good and so is his promises he is only saying he wants same sex marriage now to win the election my hat off the bishop for have the nerve to speak the truth i say amen amen