Should the Peoria Diocese Catholic churches forfeit their tax-exempt status?

[Accountable]

I heard about this on the radio news so went online to verify. This Bishop sent this letter to all of his priests:

MOST REV. DANIEL R. JENKY, C.S.C.
OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
DIOCESE OF PEORIA


OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
419 N.E. MADISON AVENUE
PEORIA, ILLINOIS 61603
PHONE: 309-671-1550
FAX: 309-671-1576


Election AD 2012


By virtue of your vow of obedience to me as your Bishop, I require that this letter be personally read by each celebrating priest at each Weekend Mass, November 3/4.


Dear Catholic Believers,


Since the foundation of the American Republic and the adoption of the Bill of Rights, I do not think there has ever been a time more threatening to our religious liberty than the present. Neither the president of the United States nor the current majority of the Federal Senate have been willing to even consider the Catholic community's grave objections to those HHS mandates that would require all Catholic institutions, exempting only our church buildings, to fund abortion, sterilization, and artificial contraception. This assault upon our religious freedom is simply without precedent in the American political and legal system. Contrary to the guarantees embedded in the First Amendment, the HHS mandates attempt to now narrowly define and thereby drastically limit our traditional religious works. They grossly and intentionally intrude upon the deeply held moral convictions that have always guided our Catholic schools, hospitals, and other apostolic ministries.


Nearly two thousand years ago, after our Savior had been bound, beaten, scourged, mocked, and crowned with thorns, a pagan Roman Procurator displayed Jesus to a hostile crowd by sarcastically declaring: Behold your King. The mob roared back: We have no king but Caesar. Today, Catholic politicians, bureaucrats, and their electoral supporters who callously enable the destruction of innocent human life in the womb also thereby reject Jesus as their Lord. They are objectively guilty of grave sin.


For those who hope for salvation, no political loyalty can ever take precedence over loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ and to his Gospel of Life. God is not mocked, and as the Bible clearly teaches, after this passing instant of life on earth, God's great mercy in time will give way to God's perfect judgment in eternity.


I therefore call upon every practicing Catholic in this Diocese to vote. Be faithful to Christ and to your Catholic Faith. May God guide and protect his Holy Church, and may God bless America.


Sincerely yours in Christ,


+Most Reverend Daniel R. Jenky, C.S.C.


BISHOP OF PEORIA

Peoria bishop orders Catholics to the polls | National Catholic Reporter


The separation of church and state is not law; it is tradition. Nevertheless, this letter certainly seems to go even further than the CEO's letter that caused such a fuss a few weeks ago.


Should the Peoria Diocese Catholic churches forfeit their tax-exempt status because of this letter?

 

[Joe the meek]

This is one reason why I can't stand Catholics.

Hmmm, "by virture of your vow of obedience to me as your Bishop".... I'd tell the guy to go jump off a bridge and that thanks to him, I'm going to vote for Obama.

 

[The Man]

Why should they pay for it

 

[Alien Allen]

catholic church should not be tax exempt

It is a huge corporation. Largest in the world if I am not mistaken

 

[porterjack]

By virtue of your vow of obedience to me as your Bishop, I require that this letter be personally read by each celebrating priest at each Weekend Mass, November 3/4.


the above statement scares me

what kind of sane mind starts out with a sentence like that - thou shallt obey or burn in hell !!!!

 

[Accountable]

Why should they pay for it

I don't understand the question. Sorry.

 

[The Man]

I don't understand the question. Sorry.

I cant get the quote tag button to work through the pbone....so i will just paste the piece from article below
........................
the Catholic community's grave objections
to those HHS mandates that would require all Catholic
institutions, exempting only our church buildings, to fund
abortion, sterilization, and artificial contraception.

 

[Accountable]

I cant get the quote tag button to work through the pbone....so i will just paste the piece from article below
........................
the Catholic community's grave objections
to those HHS mandates that would require all Catholic
institutions, exempting only our church buildings, to fund
abortion, sterilization, and artificial contraception.

Got it.

I'm not commenting on the reason he wrote the letter. Correct me if I'm wrong, but churches hold a special place in American society because they are separate from politics. This guy is all but ordering his churches to vote Romney, and the only "or else" he has at his disposal is eternal damnation. I'm suggesting that he crossed the line to influence politics, and maybe should lose his special status.

 

[Tim]

Why should they pay for it

Because they accept federal tax dollars, my tax dollars.

They DO NOT need to fund any of these things they object to if they also refuse federal tax dollars. It's their choice. So the government is not forcing them to pay for these services, they are just saying that if you accept federal tax dollars, then you must follow the same rules as everyone else.

And YES, any church that wants to involve themselves in politics should have their tax exempt status revoked.

 

[The Man]

Got it.

I'm not commenting on the reason he wrote the letter. Correct me if I'm wrong, but churches hold a special place in American society because they are separate from politics. This guy is all but ordering his churches to vote Romney, and the only "or else" he has at his disposal is eternal damnation. I'm suggesting that he crossed the line to influence politics, and maybe should lose his special status.

He is stating that the current administration has enacted legislation that goes against their religion.
I dont see it as voter intimidation {reminds me of the other thread}...this guy is just giving a run down of what is going on for those that may not be aware.

Why should one lose special status?
Isnt that kind of "keep quiet" or suffer indifferent treatment....which in effect is actually voter intimidation by the govt itself.

 

[The Man]

Because they accept federal tax dollars, my tax dollars.

They DO NOT need to fund any of these things they object to if they also refuse federal tax dollars. It's their choice. So the government is not forcing them to pay for these services, they are just saying that if you accept federal tax dollars, then you must follow the same rules as everyone else.

And YES, any church that wants to involve themselves in politics should have their tax exempt status revoked.

So.
Putting religion aside for a moment.
Why should any group have to be involved with abortion?....Let alone the govt funding it.
Its blackmail essentially.
Now back to religion.
It goes against their religion its a moral issue of taking a life.
If religion isnt accommodated with this then there essentially is no accommodation...its an intentional slap in the face.

Lets take the Amish for instance...they pay no taxes...they are accommodated according to their belief.

And YES, any church that wants to involve themselves in politics should have their tax exempt status revoked

Buying silence?
Why not carry the same theme...to anyone that gets eic ...or any federal money for projects etc...any form of grant money.
Speaking of grants...how about students lets shut them up to hey.

Lets make anyplace that receives fed aid/ aid in abortion while we are at it.

You and accountable both shocked me with your posts...I would expect the both of you to be against this voter silencing that you two have suggested.

 

[Accountable]

He is stating that the current administration has enacted legislation that goes against their religion.
I dont see it as voter intimidation {reminds me of the other thread}...this guy is just giving a run down of what is going on for those that may not be aware.

Then you didn't read very closely.

For those who hope for salvation, no political loyalty can ever take precedence over loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ and to his Gospel of Life. God is not mocked, and as the Bible clearly teaches, after this passing instant of life on earth, God's great mercy in time will give way to God's perfect judgment in eternity.

I therefore call upon every practicing Catholic in this Diocese to vote. Be faithful to Christ and to your Catholic Faith. May God guide and protect his Holy Church, and may God bless America.

He is ordering them to vote the way he interprets that God wants them to (and his view is the official Diocese view by default) or else give up all hope for salvation. You don't see that as intimidating??

Why should one lose special status?
Isnt that kind of "keep quiet" or suffer indifferent treatment....which in effect is actually voter intimidation by the govt itself.

Special status comes with special strings attached.

eta: I am equally against gov't interference in church policy.

 

[Accountable]

You and accountable both shocked me with your posts...I would expect the both of you to be against this voter silencing that you two have suggested.

I'm against silencing this voter from speaking his mind as a citizen, but he is not speaking as a citizen. He is speaking as the Catholic Diocese of Peoria, using his position in a church to intimidate people into voting how they might not otherwise vote, in order to impose his will on his fellow citizens. That's crossing the line.

If he wants power beyond that of one citizen to influence gov't procedures and legislation then he should run for office.

 

[The Man]

Then you didn't read very closely.
He is ordering them to vote the way he interprets that God wants them to (and his view is the official Diocese view by default) or else give up all hope for salvation. You don't see that as intimidating??

Special status comes with special strings attached.

eta: I am equally against gov't interference in church policy.

Well sure he wants them to vote the way god wants them to {what best protects gods wishes}and their beliefs.
Fear of hell has been going on for centuries....Live by gods will or dont make it to heaven.
Is it intimidating?..Well sure it is,it is the core of religion itself.

 

[Joe the meek]

Live by gods will or dont make it to heaven. Is it intimidating?..Well sure it is,it is the core of religion itself.

Hmmm...going to heaven is intimidating?

When God himself tells me that, I'll believe it. When men tell me that, I look for their agenda.

 

[The Man]

I'm against silencing this voter from speaking his mind as a citizen, but he is not speaking as a citizen. He is speaking as the Catholic Diocese of Peoria, using his position in a church to intimidate people into voting how they might not otherwise vote, in order to impose his will on his fellow citizens. That's crossing the line.

If he wants power beyond that of one citizen to influence gov't procedures and legislation then he should run for office.

Its all intimidation in one form or another..this just happens to use religion as intimidation..
The question is should it be allowed.
Why not.....its just another "fear" just like the rest of fears.

People reach large voter bases all the time with assembly..emails mail and TV.
The effort is to get them to vote a certain way.

 

[Accountable]

Its all intimidation in one form or another..this just happens to use religion as intimidation..
The question is should it be allowed.
Why not.....its just another "fear" just like the rest of fears.

People reach large voter bases all the time with assembly..emails mail and TV.
The effort is to get them to vote a certain way.

Then expanding the subject, would you support churches forming super pacs or hiring Washington lobbyists?
How about starting a Zionist or Muslim political party?

 

[Accountable]

He is stating that the current administration has enacted legislation that goes against their religion.
I dont see it as voter intimidation {reminds me of the other thread}...this guy is just giving a run down of what is going on for those that may not be aware.

Why should one lose special status?
Isnt that kind of "keep quiet" or suffer indifferent treatment....which in effect is actually voter intimidation by the govt itself.

Well sure he wants them to vote the way god wants them to {what best protects gods wishes}and their beliefs.
Fear of hell has been going on for centuries....Live by gods will or dont make it to heaven.
Is it intimidating?..Well sure it is,it is the core of religion itself.

It looks like you've changed your mind.

 

[The Man]

Then expanding the subject, would you support churches forming super pacs or hiring Washington lobbyists?
How about starting a Zionist or Muslim political party?

Then expanding the subject, would you support churches forming super pacs or hiring Washington lobbyists?

We essentially have pacs and super pacs already ..and yes that includes churches.
I am against lobbying in general.

How about starting a Zionist or Muslim political party?

Isnt that a stretch?

 

[The Man]

It looks like you've changed your mind.

I am using the word intimidation loosely in this thread.