The Diocese of Harrisburg has condemned a comment made by Deacon George Garber of Our Lady Help of Christians Parish regarding U.S. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar. The deacon's remark, which appeared on the "MAGA - Make America Great Again" Facebook page, suggested sending Rep. Omar "back to mud town." The Diocese labeled the comment as "not acceptable" and "inconsistent with the dignity and respect we are called to uphold as a Catholic community." The Diocese also stated it is addressing the matter internally but will not provide further comments due to it being a personnel issue.
The comment has sparked significant backlash from the community. Harrisburg resident Evans Loweoy IV expressed his disapproval, stating, "Wow, that does not seem Christian-like," while David Klinger of Williamstown called it "a terrible comment to make." The controversy comes amid heightened political tensions, with Rep. Omar recently making headlines following criticisms from President Donald Trump about the Somali community in Minnesota, which Omar represents.
The Diocese's response underscores its commitment to uphold the values of respect and dignity within the Catholic community. However, the incident has raised questions about the intersection of religion and politics, with some community members, like Loweoy, suggesting that personal opinions should not interfere with religious leadership.
Local21News reported that Father Michael Opoki, the deacon's superior, declined to comment on the matter.