Cicero Calls Church "Safety Nightmare," Pastor Accuses Town Of Racism
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A Cicero pastor facing federal fraud charges has accused town officials of racism, after they threatened to board up his church if myriad code violations are not addressed by Saturday night.
Cicero town spokesman Ray Hanania said the Ark Of Safety Apostolic Faith Temple has become a "safety nightmare."
The church, run by Bishop Herman Jackson on the 5200 block of West 23rd Street, has no water, heat, or electricity, according to a statement from the town.
It also has damaged and collapsed ceilings; mold and water damage to the walls; and garbage and filth strewn throughout the building.
"We have bent over backwards to help the pastor keep his church open, because we care about the congregation. Last Sunday, we allowed services in the church portion of the building, which also includes a shuttered day-care center, on his promise that he would have contractors make repairs this week. Nothing has been done," Hanania said.
However, Jackson said those problems are in the unused school portion of the church, with the exception of the heating problem.
"I'm very disappointed in the town of Cicero. The comments that they made regarding the church being uninhabitable is absolutely false," Jackson said.
He said he believes the church is being targeted, because it is a black congregation.
"I think that the town of Cicero has been trying to get the only African-American church out of the town of Cicero since we got here," he said. "On so many situations, they have been uncompromisable, and been rude."
Cicero has ordered the building closed, and threatened to board up the church if repairs have not been made by 5 p.m. Saturday.
Asked what he'll do, Jackson said he's going to pray.
Meantime, Jackson is facing federal tax fraud charges, and was forced to apologize to a federal judge in July 2013, after seemingly threatening her in comments to the Chicago Sun-Times, when he said "the wrath of God almighty shall soon visit her home."
He later apologized to Coleman, calling her a "Nubian queen," and saying he meant only that God would speak with her.
Jackson and his wife are accused of plotting to swindle the state out of child care subsidies through the church's daycare centers.
Federal prosecutors have said they fraudulently obtained subsidies from the state's Child Care Assistance Program by submitting false information for three daycare centers. Bishop Jackson has been charged with 12 counts of wire fraud, and two counts of making false statements. His wife has been charged with eight counts of wire fraud, and one count of making false statements.