Restore the Sanctity of the Sanctuary

If it smells like stinky brown stuff, it probably is.

Looking back to January, a group of people protesting against the US Immigration and Customs service, or ICE, stormed Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, during a service.

The images of this action likely left an indelible mark on many people and will live forever in the memories of those who were attending that church. One can only imagine the impact it made on those children present as the stark images showed them cowering in fear.

Down through the ages, a church has been seen as a refuge and sanctuary. The denomination of a church never really mattered and even most of the notable horror writers have adhered to that unofficial code. Even when evil did enter a church it would inevitably pay a steep price.

Evil entered Cities Church that day in the form of 39 protestors. Among them was former CNN personality Don Lemon — attempting to be relevant again but failing miserably.

Fast forward to last week and it was announced that Irene Kao, City Attorney for St. Paul, made the decision not to prosecute the protestors. The statement released included, “Following a careful evaluation of the video footage, investigative reports, and other available materials, prosecutors determined that the current evidence is insufficient to meet that standard for criminal charges under Minnesota state statutes.”

That decision was absolutely unbelievable. The evidence was crystal clear, broadcast around the country and beyond, in living color for all to witness. But it wasn’t crystal clear to Kao.

Needless to say, the members of Cities Church were reportedly outraged at Kao’s decision, especially considering the video evidence. Worse, Kao’s decision opens the door for other groups protesting anything, real or imagined, to storm church services in St. Paul with impunity.

SINCE Kao’s decision was made public, some interesting news surfaced that cast doubt on her ability to render such a decision.

That news alleges that one of the protestors involved in the incident is married to a member of the St. Paul city council. If so, that leaves the door wide open for the potential of a conflict-of-interest situation, and the decision of prosecuting the protestors should not have been made by Kao or by any official hired by, and answerable to, the city council. As this column was being written, neither Kao, nor the Mayor of St. Paul, had been able to find just a little bit of time to answer this claim. You can draw your own conclusion.

Whether or not any action taken by Kao, the mayor, city council member, or anyone else associated with the situation can be attributable to a conflict-of-interest is unknown, but just the appearance erodes confidence in elected leadership.

A pile of stinky brown stuff – politics and politicians alike.

THANKFULLY, the decision might have been taken out of Kao’s hands as federal prosecutors filed charges based on violations of civil rights against all of the protestors involved in the storming of Cities Church.

Hopefully the sanctity of the church will be upheld and evil appropriately punished.

That’s my opinion.

Andy Kober can be reached at andykober@hotmail.com