Posted on 12/17/2010 4:07:46 PM PST by jazusamo
The Federal Reserve quickly withdrew an order to an Oklahoma bank to remove religious items from public view on Friday after two Republicans blasted the action as an "assault on faith."
Sen. James Inhofe and Rep. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma sent a pointed letter to Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke on Friday asking him whether he stood by a Federal Reserve examiner who told Payne County Bank officials to remove the religious references from their business. The Fed examiner told the bank the religious items could discourage a person from seeking an application.
The removed items removed included a link on the bank's website to a Bible verse of the day and buttons that said, "Merry Christmas, God With Us," according to local news reports.
In a statement on his website, Inhofe called the decision "completely ridiculous."
"It unduly discriminates against a persons faith in Christ and their Constitutionally protected freedom to publically [sic] express that faith. It is simply another case of liberals in Washington overstepping their bounds and intruding in the lives of individuals," Inhofe's statement said.
"The recent actions taken by the Federal Reserve at Payne County Bank are of great concern to me," added Lucas in a separate statement. "I encourage the Federal Reserve to review the situation and take the appropriate action to address it."
The outcry forced Fed officials to reverse the action, clarifying that the personal religious items displayed by bank employees in Perkins, Okla., did not violate a provision of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
A spokesman for Inhofe said Fed officials returned to the bank Friday to inform employees they could put the religious items back on display.
The examiner had determined that the religious items violated "Regulation B" of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which stipulates that banks cannot make any statements to potential applicants that could discourage them from seeking an application.
The letter forced Tom Hoenig, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, to respond. In a statement Friday, he said the regulation does not apply to personal items displayed in the workplace.
Sadly, Lucas and Inhofe must have missed the memo. Thanks to TARP, the government now “owns” the banks.
In other news Tom Hoenig, formerly with the KC Fed, is seeking new employment after committing career-suicide.
Sure wish the Inhofe & Lucas letter was posted on the internet.
Good on them.
Christians are being discriminated against in the once freest country the world has ever known.
Who knew? All who were paying attention in the 70’s and 80’s and 90’s could see where the hate train was heading.
Looks like lead is the only thing that is going to fix this problem. Liberal, must be forced to leave, walking or feet first.
I would sure like to see them step up and audit the Fed. And Fannie, while they are at it.
Amen to that.
You may well be right, so sad. /s
I’m a professional Fed watcher, among other things, and Hoenig is actually a good guy. Some drones in his command stepped out of line, and it’s a good bet “the memo” on this kind of idiocy has already gone out.
I’m ready for Ron Paul to start hearings on the Federal Reserve in January, and I’m not even a Ron Paul fan.
It’s still necessary to punish Tom and his running dog lackeys. There are ways to do this that would get the point across to everybody ~ public ways.
There are few Biblical references on the Supreme Court and many government buildings across the land.
In fact, every single state constitution in this country gives thanks to God so Bernanke is an ignorant A-hole.
Thanks for the info. So it was one or more of Hoenig’s people that pulled this stunt.
Wish they would have named the bank examiner (or examiners) who told them to take down their religious items in the first place.
Fire the examiner!
Beat me to it.
“or the free exercise thereof”
We’re becoming Germany in the 30’s. The Government, and their “workers” are out of control.
Get rid of all religious materials, but you better comply with Shari’a finance rules!
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