Peoria bishop compares Obama's actions to Stalin, Hitler

The Anti-Defamation League wants an apology from Peoria's bishop following a recent homily comparing President Barack Obama's policies to those of despots Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin.

During the message at St. Mary's Cathedral in Peoria, Roman Catholic Bishop Daniel Jenky contended social services for Catholics could be eliminated if Obama's directive to include contraceptives in health insurance continues. Jenky went on to compare the actions to past cultural wars against the Catholic Church.


“Remember that in past history other governments have tried to force Christians to huddle and hide only within the confines of their churches like the first disciples locked up in the Upper Room,” Jenky said.

Read the original story, hear audio at NBChicago.com

In comparison, he pointed to Otto von Bismarck's "culture war against the Roman Catholic Church, closing down every Catholic school and hospital, convent and monastery in Imperial Germany."
 
“Clemenceau, nicknamed ‘the priest eater,’ tried the same thing in France in the first decade of the 20th Century," 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 said.

Chicago’s Anti-Defamation League calls the comments "outrageous." League Regional Director Lonnie Nasatir told the Chicago Tribune Jenky "needs a history lesson."

Nasatir said the bishop's homily trivialized the deaths of six million Jews and others during the Holocaust. He said there are few if any historic parallels to "the religious intolerance and anti-Semitism fostered in society by Stalin, and especially Hitler."

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Everytime there is a discussion it always reverts back to women and their rights! It's always about abortion and condoms, or whatever it is to stop pregnancy. This has nothing to do with religion, it has to do with ethics and morals. Why is it that Liberals have no problem with abortion, but have all the problems with the death penalty. Now, I don't really care what people do, they are the ones that have to live with their decisions. My question is ,if a mother is 4 months pregnant and has an abortion, that is OK, but that same mother gives birth to that baby @ 4 months and that baby lives but then for some reason she kills that child, it is Murder. Why? Liberals are all for abortion, when a baby is sucked out of the mother's body, but they are against the death penalty? There has to be better laws on abortion, even though I don't agree with abortion, if someone wants to do it, again they have to live with it. I cannot imagine why a woman, who is considering getting an abortion, waits til it's 2,3,4 months. You don't want that child, just do it! Don't use abortions as a birth control, because it's so easy, take some responsibilty for your body, that it empowerment! I have no problem helping others, but I do not want to pay for something I don't believe in. I don't want to pay for someone who has children that they cannot afford! I give to charity all the time, But I don't want to support people who are not responsible for their actions. I had 3 children because that is what I thought we could afford, so I don't want to pay for someone elses children that they can't afford, don't have them!!!! All this talk about redistribution of wealth is B.S. I will give my money to who I want to give it to, and leave it to who I want to leave it to, whatever is left after it is taxed again! My whole family breaks their butts at work, in school, and put all our efforts into what we decide to do. We don't need someone to tell us what we should be doing for others, we know the right things to do for people who deserve it. I'm not talking about people who have hit on hard times through no fault of their own.

  • 1 vote
Reply#800 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:49 PM EDT

Great post loved it all!!

    #800.1 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:00 PM EDT
    Reply

    Bravo Bishop. Obama employs a Hitler look-alike in Axlerod, so it makes sense.

    • 2 votes
    Reply#801 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:49 PM EDT

    Thanks for being a sniveling @!$%#.

    • 1 vote
    #801.1 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:50 PM EDT

    Really idiot???

      #801.2 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:55 PM EDT

      Yep.

        #801.3 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:16 PM EDT
        Reply

        This priests diatribe would be amusing, if it weren't such a disgusting distortion of reality.

        No organization or group has caused more death, pain, suffering, war, crime, pedophilia, abuse, hatred, fear and ignorance throughout history than the Catholic Church. They are - without a doubt - the worst of the worst. So, it makes sense that this sick & demented child-raping "priest" would be attacking a President with forward-thinking and progressive values.

        • 4 votes
        Reply#802 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:49 PM EDT

        Sandshark,

        Your hate is palpable. The bishop is right on target.

        Killing babies is progressive? Liberal perhaps, but never progressive.

        • 1 vote
        #802.1 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:53 PM EDT
        Reply

        Bishop Jenky is a scumbag.

        • 1 vote
        Reply#803 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:50 PM EDT

        The Catholic Church is no better than Communist Russia or Nazi Germany. Has someone done inventory on the Sacramental wine latey.

        • 1 vote
        Reply#804 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:50 PM EDT

        I agree with many posts here...the Bishop is comparing Obomba's policies to those of Hitler and Stalin, not Obomba himself. Nothing wrong with that! At least somebody has the guts to do it! If it were me, I WOULD compare Obomba to Hitler AND Stalin. November can't come soon enough! Get this ruinous POTUS out!

        • 3 votes
        Reply#805 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:50 PM EDT

        I see. So you object to Obama putting Jews into boxcars, you say? Smooth.

          #805.1 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:51 PM EDT

          I just fear his lame-duck presidency of two months before he leaves office......

          • 1 vote
          #805.2 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:52 PM EDT

          I can tell by your comments that you come from a place of fear. Turn off Fox news. They use fear and scare tactics to brainwash you poor people.

            #805.3 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:39 PM EDT
            Reply

            Let's ask the thousands of young boys who were raped repeatedly by "sacred and honorable" priests and bishops how they feel about it.

            • 4 votes
            Reply#806 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:50 PM EDT

            mike,

            Does that include the thousands who have confessed to lying about being molested?

              #806.1 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:54 PM EDT

              check your facts. How many Bishops and Cardinals knew about the rapists and just relocated them to rape again and again?

              a religion that PROTECTS CHILD MOLESTERS

              • 2 votes
              #806.2 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:58 PM EDT

              Why do people insist on making stupid comments? That has absolutely nothing to do with anything. Personally, I think child rape should be a capital offense. Still don't know what that has to do with the article, though.

                #806.3 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:01 PM EDT

                The article is about the Roman Catholic Church taking a stand. I say they have no right to take a stand. The Pope was very friendly with the nazis and the whole church should be shut down for protecting child molesters within their ranks.

                • 1 vote
                #806.4 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:29 PM EDT

                However, the U.S.A. will most likely have a Mormon Cultist as it's president next year, so I guess it is anything goes for now.

                • 1 vote
                #806.5 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:31 PM EDT
                Reply

                Like the bible say everyone saying Lord,Lord is not who they really are....b'cus whose to judge only God not man. I have notice every since this man took ofc. ppl seem to not take it as well to see a black Chief in Authority. That all I have to say....

                • 2 votes
                Reply#807 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:50 PM EDT

                There was nothing wrong what the Bish said! He compared totalatarian policies of the past, to another form of it in Obamacare. The purpose was to highlight where this thing could go should the SCOTUS not strike it down.

                • 1 vote
                Reply#808 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:50 PM EDT

                so if the nazi's and stalin close catholic schools and churches then the former archbishop of baltimore city maryland who was elevated to cardinal is a nazi and a communist since he closed multiple elementry schools and my former high school cardinal gibbons. time for this freaking richard head to look around and see that the catholic religion has and still is a violent religion. pull u r head out of ulittle boys crotch you old piece of s&^$.

                • 2 votes
                Reply#809 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:51 PM EDT

                joe,

                What?..Go back to your drug-induced sleep..

                • 1 vote
                #809.1 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:55 PM EDT
                Reply

                Have you noticed that Obama has said that everyone must be thin? Therefore, whether you are black or Jewish or Catholic or Asian or whatever, doesn't it seem that you will pick out a group that you dislike categorically? This type of thinking is to be combatted at all costs.

                • 1 vote
                Reply#810 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:51 PM EDT

                yeah, go back to your tea bagger group... no one else is listening

                • 1 vote
                #810.1 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:52 PM EDT

                Eat some more pork chops Alabama.

                • 2 votes
                #810.2 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:54 PM EDT

                No, because he hasn't.

                • 1 vote
                #810.3 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:59 PM EDT

                deep fry your brain...

                • 1 vote
                #810.4 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:02 PM EDT
                Reply

                I for one, have read these replies and I see a general hatred for the Church, any church. The opinions expressed by a good quantity of writers are just a small degree away from the mindset of stonings and detention camps if given the chance. Popular thought is turning to the notion that anyone of the "opinion" that God exists is a lunatic and worthy of nothing better than a mental ward or prison. Kindness and compassion and love are great if all of the same opinion and this love does not stand up for anything that may shake anyone's little boat. In other countries some of the people who work the hardest to help people, and make a difference in this crappy world are the continual subjects of death and capture. In America, it is ridicule! It makes me laugh that those who really know nothing about real love are the first to express their opinions on something they know absolutely nothing about! Does real love allow you to kill children and suffer mental torment in the aftermath so you have a "right" to choose? Does real love put up with an "anything" goes society that is killing itself with drug addiction and hedonism? And our American leadership is leading the charge right down the road to degredation and patheticness. I've seen a better America in my life time and this folks is not it! Jesus Christ was a shining example of love in action. He healed ALL the sick, raised the dead and the political, secular society hated Him and killed Him. So much for "let's all have a little love and everything will be okay". I see the same mindset and hatred in the replies written on this site.

                  Reply#811 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:51 PM EDT

                  oH REALLY??? This guy showed love, compassion and kindness???

                    #811.1 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:53 PM EDT

                    I grew-up catholic. I had nothing but good times in the church, and perhaps the only reason I left was the "every" Sunday thing, and that I think that men should marry (women!)

                    Other than that, the Catholic faith is fine, and does a lot of good work..

                      #811.2 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:56 PM EDT

                      joy, Sweetie,

                      The truth is often hard to take. He was right on target.

                        #811.3 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:56 PM EDT
                        Reply

                        good grief... who is he trying to kid? We all know that priests and bishops prefer little boys. No birth control necessary whenever they sin

                        • 3 votes
                        Reply#812 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:51 PM EDT

                        PR,

                        All of them? Are you interested in them as well? Lonely?

                          #812.1 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:57 PM EDT
                          Reply

                          Hitler also ate sugar, so anyone that eats sugar is as bad as if not worse than Hitler. hth.

                          • 2 votes
                          Reply#813 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:51 PM EDT

                          Eating sugar is evil? Try an analogy that is relevant.

                          • 1 vote
                          #813.1 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:57 PM EDT
                          Reply

                          And perhaps the Bishop wonders why the pews are emptying in Parishes across the nation...it's absurd rhetoric like this and a disconnection with the realities or the 21st century that propels Catholics from the church. It's also a failure of the Roman Catholic leadership in so many respects that leaves me with the sense that the church is just an dying anachronism. Sign me happily a lapsed Catholic... On the other hand, we have other church leaders like in Dallas who in November call a candidate a member of a cult for their religious practices and then in April give an endorsement to that same candidate. Perhaps the Unitarians have room?

                          • 1 vote
                          Reply#814 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:51 PM EDT

                          His church will only grow due to this because he is right.

                          All churches are cults...look up the meaning of "cult".

                            #814.1 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:58 PM EDT
                            Reply

                            How dare the Catholic Church compare anyone to a dictator. This man needs to be taken off the pulpit because if there ever was a dicator, it's the Catholic church!!!! It suppress women, creates fear and hatred and are TOTAL CONTROL FREAKS. The Catholic church need to shut its mouth and stay where they belong, back in the dark ages. Time to get rid of the church.

                            • 4 votes
                            Reply#815 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:51 PM EDT

                            The bishop was right on. Leave the Church if you don't like it........millions of us still do.

                              #815.1 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:59 PM EDT

                              NC, that's what these left-wing nuts can't understand. If you don't like something, it's your right not to go to church on Sunday. Even if you're a Catholic, you have the right to choose to use birth control and they won't kick you out of the church. The problem is libs have gotten it in their narrow little minds that if they don't like it, it shouldn't exist at all. And Joy, President numnutz is about as close to a dictator as the U.S. has ever had in the white house. I'm not sure how else you could categorize a guy who disregards the constitution and does whatever he wants regardless. Lastly, if you're going to make ignorant comments you should at least try to explain yourself a little better as opposed to making blanket unsupported statements.

                                #815.2 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:08 PM EDT
                                Reply

                                The Bishop is right on the money!

                                • 3 votes
                                Reply#816 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:51 PM EDT

                                i asm, was catholic, vatican, needs to reel him in, send him to the silence room, forever! how dare he talk like that to people about someone who holds the elected seat by the majority americans, dare the church, to not be aware of his wats, president of america, to be serpantized by a bishop. shame shame , on all those that can"t show more respect for our president, who ever is elected, sick of all the ugly talk, think of the children, that are now getting the wrong image, you spilled your evil tongue onto them, shame , be adults , be respectful.

                                • 2 votes
                                Reply#817 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:51 PM EDT

                                mia,

                                Hitler was elected also.

                                The bishop is right.

                                  #817.1 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:00 PM EDT
                                  Reply

                                  Take away their tax exempt status for giving polical speeches in church.

                                  • 3 votes
                                  Reply#818 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:52 PM EDT

                                  This is exactly why the Church should lose its tax exempt status.

                                  • 4 votes
                                  Reply#819 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:52 PM EDT

                                  WTF is right, extremists are saying that pro-choice is like forcing abortion on them? WTF. What is forcing something on us having religious organizations not pay taxes. That is forcing the non believers on the bronze era crap to pay for this religious crab.

                                  • 2 votes
                                  Reply#820 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:52 PM EDT

                                  NO, pro-death is allowing the killing of children. No one is forcing them to not get an abortion.

                                    #820.1 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:00 PM EDT

                                    idiot, if you give them a condom or contraceptives, it would not be any abortions!! DUH!

                                      #820.2 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:07 PM EDT
                                      Reply

                                      Funny this bishop made this comment since the catholics were in bed with the Nazis during WW II. So, I guess he is for Obama!

                                      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church_and_Nazi_Germany

                                      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Orsen.jpg

                                      • 4 votes
                                      Reply#821 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:53 PM EDT

                                      It also saved more Jews than any other entity.

                                        #821.1 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:01 PM EDT

                                        It also saved more Jews than any other entity.

                                        If that isn't damning with faint praise.

                                          #821.2 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:12 PM EDT
                                          Reply

                                          Pass the Bishop another Choir boy, the last one split!

                                          • 1 vote
                                          Reply#822 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:53 PM EDT

                                          Dave is volunteering for that duty.

                                            #822.1 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 5:01 PM EDT

                                            NC-492358, You go first....I promise that I won't run away!

                                            • 1 vote
                                            #822.2 - Fri Apr 20, 2012 8:25 AM EDT
                                            Reply

                                            By allowing their "pervo-priests" to run amok, making ludicrous, insulting and inflammatory statements like Bishop Jenky has, the Catholic Church is continuing to pave the way for the mass exodus from their congregations across America. Talk about driving your flock away. Absolute utter moron Jenky.

                                              Reply#823 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:53 PM EDT

                                              Tax churches. Churches that become active politically should not be sheltered.

                                              • 4 votes
                                              Reply#824 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:53 PM EDT

                                              Abraham Lincoln once said that the Constitution should be taught in schools and preached from the pulpit.

                                                #824.1 - Thu Apr 19, 2012 4:57 PM EDT
                                                Reply
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