The Courage of Bishop Daniel Jenky: Catholics by Conviction!

By Deacon Keith Fournier
4/23/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

We can no longer be Catholics by accident, but instead be Catholics by conviction

One of the silverlinings in the ominous cloud threatening the freedom of the Church in America is the extraordinary way the hostility of the new Caesar has mobilized the faithful. Perhaps even more heartening is the way that this growing and open hostility has elicited such courageous leadership from so many of our shepherds. Most recently that kind of courage was demonstrated by Bishop Daniel Jenky of Peoria, Illinois.

Bishop Daniel Jenky of the Diocese of Peoria

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PEORIA, IL (Catholic Online) - On Thursday, January 19,2012, Pope Benedict XVI addressed the Bishops of Region IV in the United States (Baltimore, Washington and the archdiocese for the Military Services) gathered for their ad limina visit. He warned them of a "radical secularism which finds increasing expression in the political and cultural spheres". He further warned them that the "seriousness of these threats needs to be clearly appreciated at every level of ecclesial life. Of particular concern are certain attempts being made to limit that most cherished of American freedoms, the freedom of religion."

His excellency gave a tremendous homily on April 14, 2012, at a Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral during the annual "Call to Catholic Men of Faith" event. Over 500 men gathered and, on a rainy day, marched through downtown Peoria bearing witness to the ancient but ever new Catholic faith. During the event the Bishop presided at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass where the men and many others joined him. I paid particular attention to the event because my wife is from Peoria and became a Catholic many years ago in that Diocese.

In his homily this good Bishop did what all good homilists should do, he reflected on the readings of the day for the Liturgy. The first reading, taken from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 4: 13-21), recounted the hostility faced by Peter, the first Pope, and the beloved disciple, John, as they exercised their apostolic ministry in another culture which had grown hostile to the Church and her message of genuine liberation.

Peter and John left an example which has been followed for over two millennia whenever the Church faces open hostility from the State. It is in this account that we find these often quoted words: " So they called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, "Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard."

The Gospel for the day was a post resurrection account from St Mark's gospel (Mk 16: 9-15). Jesus tells the believers to "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature." The Apostles did just what the Lord said and they turned the world of their age upside down (Acts 17:6). So too have their successors. Bishop Jenky of Peoria did a good job of demonstrating the same kind of apostolic courage shown by Peter and John when he reminded all Catholics "We can no longer be Catholics by accident, but instead be Catholics by conviction."

The homily has been quoted in a piecemeal fashion by those who do not want Catholic Bishops to exhibit a backbone in the face of the growing hostility toward the Church in the West. Fortunately, their effort to intimidate is not dissuading our shepherds. The entire homily has been posted by the Diocese and can be read here. Our readers can also listen to this courageous Bishop on a podcast by visiting here We offer the homily in full context and complete below.
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Homily of Bishop Daniel Jenky of Peoria, Illinois.

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. The unanimous testimony of all four Gospels is that the terrible death of Jesus on the cross entirely dashed all their hopes about Jesus and about his message. He was dead, and that was the end of it. They looked for nothing more, and they expected nothing more.

So as much as they had loved him, in their eyes Jesus was a failed messiah. His dying seemed to entirely rob both his teaching and even his miracles of any lasting significance.And they were clearly terrified that his awful fate, at the hands of the Sanhedrin and the Romans, could easily become their awful fate. So they hid, trembling with terror, behind shuttered windows and locked doors.

When the Risen Christ suddenly appeared in their midst, their reaction was shocked incredulity. They simply could not believe their own eyes. Reality only very slowly began to penetrate their consciousness when Jesus offers proof of his resurrection. He shows them ...

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1 - 10 of 123 Comments

Bill Pran
6 months ago
God bless Bishop Daniel Jenky, May God bless this wonderful man of God.
Dick and Mary Wilkinson
1 year ago
Dear Bishop Jenky,

God Bless you for your courage. We are praying for you. Notre Dame has been a disappointment to us, Unfortunately the School has strayed , in some instances, from what it means to be "Catholic". Please stand up for those of us who believe in Catholic teaching. Be our voice! Thank you and God be with you.

Sincerely,
Dick and Mary Wilkinson
Lonnie Atteberry
1 year ago
Thank God for someone who says what alot of us are thinking. Obama is our first marxist president. He was raised by his grandpa in Hawaii who was a communist. Bishop Jenky is speaking the truth and the liberals hate him for it. He should continue as he is and not be swayed by liberal pressure. I am not a Catholic but have alot of respect for this man. Keep up the good work bishop Jenky and God will reward you.
sharon
1 year ago
Dear Bishop Jenky! You sstated what we all believe about this actions of this President!! Thank you and thank God for having the ability to say what we all think!! We are backing you 100 percent! God Bless us all..
margaret ahler
1 year ago
To Boshop Jenky,

Thank you for speaking out on religious freedom. Why are not others doing it? I am ashamed that so few of us are outraged and that this president and his administration are using womens' health issues as an excuse for pushing his healthcare. God bless you for taking a stand on the REAL issue which is religious freedom.
kate cabral-mckeand
1 year ago
God bless Bishop Jenky.
I am Canadian and we need to have more people speak out and about our faith. I wish all of our Catholic leaders would do the same.
I hope all of us as Catholics can follow his example and live by his words.
People need to open their eyes and see what is going on around us and make the necessary changes before it's too late..
Joseph DuPont
1 year ago
Dear Editor,
Through good fortune I came across a recent homily by the Most Reverend Daniel R. Jenky, Bishop of Peoria . In it Bishop Jenky reminded me of the miracle of Christianity and how it's fabric is now under attack by Barack Hussein Obama II and his radical appointees. Obama's assault on Christian places of warship, healing and learning are unconscionable. But the truth is that this same president has also placed the homeland of the Jewish people in a desperate situation. It matters not what Obama's motivation is. Regardless of whether his actions are from ignorance, arrogance or part of a sinister agenda, we can't afford 4 more years of this. If America is going to survive economically, or culturally, we must vote with our God given Constitutional rights in mind. We must vote for someone whose parents loved this country.
Too many people have died protecting our inalienably , God given rights to let Obama or anyone else ignore them. Despite Obama's statements to the contrary, America is a Judeo-Christian society.
vance
1 year ago
Rob, at first I didn't know that Bishop Jenky had anything to do with Notre Dame University. I am curious to see what happens from here on.
Judy
1 year ago
Rob: Good Post! Vance, thanks for info. Did I not write somewhere that we are indeed blessed with Pope Benedict? That he and Blessed John Paul II are brothers. That when the Church starts something like this, it is like tending a garden that has gotten out of hand. One starts slow, first weeding. And that to me is the biggest part of the job. Some weeds are are young and easily managed. Others are strong, w/wooded stems that will not budge. Their roots are near impossible to eradicate. Just like pedophile priests. I am not comparing them, but I am saying "the weed pulling" began w/Blessed Pope John Paul II and is now continuing. Praise God! It does not happen fast like our political elections. We the Faithful, must continue to support our Holy Father and those who follow his lead like Bishop Jensky. We do not just have a political fight, but it looks as though a Church one as well. And this my Brother Pilgrims, is also what it means to stay on the straight and narrow path. Blessings to you both...
Rob
1 year ago
vance, you know what's crazy about this protest of the homily is that it really isn't that controversial. It's a rather succint history of some of the persecution the Church has suffered through. I think what happened is that those who got themselves all enamored over the President got themselves called out for it. Guess they didn't like their conscience getting pricked. We need a lot more of that to be sure.

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