The Need For Moral Courage

“Moral Courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence.  Yet, it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change.”  Senator Robert F. Kennedy

The Board of Fellows at Notre Dame University has called for the resignation of one of their fellows, Bishop Daniel Jenky of the Peoria Diocese in Illinois. The plot thickened, as Americans United for Separation of Church and State could hardly wait to file an IRS complaint against the local diocese charging “illegal election intervention”.    

Their reason?  Bishop Jenky, gave a homily at a Catholic men’s conference, “A Call to Catholic Men of Faith” in Peoria, where he expressed concern that our country was starting down a dangerous path that we have seen before in history, in which religious groups faced persecution because of their beliefs.  He warned that history teaches us to be cautious once we start down the path of limiting religious liberty.

Here is the particular statement of his homily, which has caused the firestorm:

Bishop Jenky stated: “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.” 

These words sparked the accusation that the Bishop had “likened” President Barack Obama to Hitler and Stalin, and from there the castigation of Bishop Jenky began, with a total of 95 (and counting), members of faculty at Notre Dame adding their names to a letter sent to the university’s president, Rev. John Jenkins and chairman of the trustees Richard Notebaert, demanding action. Despite attempts from the Peoria Diocese to clarify Bishop Jenky’s statements, the firestorm shows no signs of abating, with some news headlines such as “Faculty Calls For ‘Hitler’ Bishop to Resign” being circulated.   

Bishop Jenky himself was “surprised” at the faculty’s reaction, saying they must have not actually heard or read what was said and only what people have misquoted.” 

I personally think their own guilty consciences have made the connection between Stalin, Hitler and Obama.  

So, what’s the real deal here?  Well, let’s take a look at some of what Bishop Jenky said in his homily that day – and what is the real deal here.  

Bishop Jenky told the group of 500 men assembled at the conference that day, that there is only one basic reason why Christianity exists, and that is the fact that Jesus Christ truly rose from the grave. The disciples never expected the resurrection, and they were clearly terrified that Jesus fate would become their fate – a clearly natural human response. 

But once those poor cowering Apostles had experienced the Risen Christ, their human nature was overcome, and even threats from the Sanhedrin, (from the Acts of the Apostles) who commanded them never again to teach, or speak to anyone, in the name of Jesus, could not hold them back from announcing the Good News of the Resurrection – that Jesus was the Christ, the promised Messiah of Israel – the Savior of the world – the very Son of God – and that His resurrection confirmed every word He had ever spoken or work He had ever done.

In the Gospel reading during the mass that day, at the Catholic men’s conference,  from the 16^th Chapter of Mark, it concluded with a ‘command’ from the lips of Jesus, given to His disciples –  the whole church – and to you and me: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”    This Is The Real Deal! 

Bishop Jenky affirmed that Christianity has never been easy – nor was it supposed to be easy.  As Jesus once predicted, they hated me, they will certainly hate you. But, if we truly believe that Christ rose from the dead, we should be willing to overcome our fears and ask Christ to give us the moral courage to stand up for the truth before the whole world.  Is this not what Bishop Jenky has done?

Bishop Daniel R. Jenky CSC, Bishop of the Diocese of Peoria, in Peoria, Illinois, showed great moral courage in his homily given during the mass, that day at “A Call to Catholic Men of Faith” conference.  Now, the Sanhedrin of our day, wants to silence him.    

Bishop Jenky went on to state to the conference that day, “This fall, every practicing Catholic must vote, and must vote their Catholic consciences, or by the following fall our Catholic schools, our Catholic hospitals, our Catholic Newman Centers, all our public ministries – only excepting our church buildings – could easily be shut down. No Catholic ministry can remain faithful to the Lordship of the Risen Christ and to His glorious Gospel of Life if they are forced to pay for abortions.”    AND THAT IS THE REAL DEAL HERE!