Sanders to Attend Vatican City Meeting on Economic, Social Issues

[GreatGazoo]

Source: NBC

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders will head to Vatican City just days before the New York primary to attend a meeting on social justice and economic issues.

Sanders announced Friday morning that he will attend the conference, which will be hosted by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences on April 15.

Sanders, who would be the first Jewish U.S. president, said on Morning Joe that he was invited by the Vatican to attend the event. While he acknowledged that he disagrees with the Catholic Church's teachings on some social issues, such as gay marriage, he praised Pope Francis for "injecting a moral consequence into the economy."
...
New York's primary, where Clinton is currently favored, will be held on April 19, just days after Sanders travels to Rome.

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/sanders-attend-vatican-city-meeting-economic-social-issues-n552866

[florida08]

1. Good for Bernie

Odd that when a Pope has the poor at heart and wants to encourage countries to do what the good book says- they all go silent suddenly. But never a shortage on Israel

[CTyankee]

2. This is a BFD! Wow. I saw Bernie say that on Morning Joe and was floored by it....

Bernie was superb and got all the questions...the gun thing, the minimum wage raise, peace in the Middle East...and he did beautifully...

[ejbr]

11. Thanks

It's good to know he is addressing these issues without the filter of questionable sources.

[Divernan]

42. Agreed! This is unprecedented - a really BIG deal

MSM may try to ignore this, but the international press will be paying close attention and covering this conference.

I'm what you might call a secular Catholic - try to live according to teachings of Christ, but wrote off the formal church decades ago - birth control being a major issue. However, I attended Catholic schools from 1st grade through high school, Jesuit undergrad schooling and then Catholic law school.

Many, many of my friends and relatives are Catholic, and a good number of them are still church goers. This new Pope is so well respected by them - and his reaching out to/validation of Bernie Sanders will be more than enough to influence their votes - even the diehard Republicans.

Now we're already seeing Hill's irregulars trashing the Catholic Church and the Pope - and it's got to be before Clinton Campaign Central has had a chance to send out instructions/scripts on this.

I'd say they are shooting themselves in the foot, but their feet are long gone. They've worked their way up to shooting themselves in the upper thigh! The Catholics they offend during this primary race will join the many others who have said they will not vote for Hillary in the general election.

Can't wait for Bill to shoot his mouth off about this development!

[RoccoR5955]

3. That ought be good for another 10%

of the voters!
Bernie SHALL take NY, and PA, AND CA.

[s-cubed]

4. Bernie puts people first.

While this might give him votes, it could also cost him votes due to lost campaigning time. But Bernie will only look at the possibility of helping people. Go Bernie!

[A Simple Game]

7. But it may get him some face time on the news shows. May being the key word.

I hope for at least a toss-up for exposure.

[WaitWut]

46. As well as show him in a diplomatic role.

eom

[A Simple Game]

64. Yes, good point. And making people wonder why Hillary wasn't invited too. n/t

[Jemmons]

5. I love the way that His Holiness finds practical ways to support low income families

[snort]

44. Zing!

Nice one.

[Surya Gayatri]

6. His "invite" to the Vatican is nothing, if not ironic.

He's going to advocate for the poor and disposessed, just like he did back in Vermont in the 1980's and 90's. Riiiight...

http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/el-cheapo/Content?oid=2433883

SEVEN DAYS
Vermont's Independent Voice

By Peter Freyne

October 16, 1996

EL CHEAPO!

Sanders is making more money than at any time in his life but gives next to nothing to charity organizations. This leads Peter Freyne to reminisce about Bernie's early mayoral charity-trashing speech to the United Way.

He's the only independent in Congress, the self-proclaimed champion of "poor people, working people and the elderly," and he wears his politics on his sleeve.
...

But some things never change: Bernie Sanders is still a cheapskate.
...

Revolutionary zeal was all the rage, and no one who was there will ever forget that memorable day at the Ramada Inn in 1981 when Mayor Sanders was invited to address the kickoff of the United Way campaign.

Ol' Bernardo couldn't conceal the contempt he held for all those well-dressed do-gooders. His infamous, in-your-face "I Don't Believe In Charity" speech knocked 'em on their tushes.

More at link:

http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/el-cheapo/Content?oid=2433883

[redruddyred]

8. new englanders are famous for being cheap SoBs tho, add any antisemitic stereotypes to the mix...

...and voila!

i'm supporting bernie in this race but that was an entertaining read

[pangaia]

10. Bernie is a cheapskate. well, ugh..

Clinton is a self-loving, nose in the air, I WANT MINE, liar..
There, how's them potatoes?

[leftofcool]

13. Maybe Bernie will release his tax returns so we can all see how much he gave to charities?

We know the Clintons gave millions.

[pangaia]

18. I do not care.

[Cassiopeia]

19. Much of that to their own charity.

Is it really giving it away when you still control what happens to it?

[FailureToCommunicate]

32. Nice try. Some here may even believe your misinformation.

You know full well that the Sanders have shown their tax return.

And trumpeting the Clinton's contributions just opens a silver chafing dish of worms.

[KPN]

35. Who cares ... Bernie has lived a life of charitable pursuit to the highest degree.

Whereas the Clinton's have given away other people's money via a "private foundation" that has served to feather their bed and ambitions.

Not even close.

[AlbertCat]

37. We know the Clintons gave millions.

Like the Kochs!

It's a great tax write-off!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

53. for the tax right offs

[Ichingcarpenter]

23. Seventh day Adventist were big NAZI and Hitler supporters

And major anti semitic





Notice the 'cheap' slur ?....Heard that one before?
which came from the site from the Seventh Day people?



Let's see what The Adventist Morning Watch Calendar of December, 1939, had to say about the great Adolph Hitler:

"Trust in his people has given the Fuhrer the strength to carry through the fight for freedom and honour of Germany. The unshakable faith of Adolf Hitler allowed him to do great deeds, which decorate him today before the whole world. Selflesslyand faithfully he has struggled for his people; courageously and proudly he has defended the honour of his nation. In Christian humility, at important times when he could celebrate with his people, he gave God in Heaven the honour and recognized his dependence upon God's blessings. This humility has made him great, and this greatness was the source of blessing, from which he always gave for his people. Only very few statesmen stand so brilliantly in the sun of a blessed life, and are so praised by their own people as our Fuhrer. He has sacrificed much in the years of his struggle and has thought little about himself in the difficult work for his people. We compare the unnumbered words, which he has issued to the people from a warm heart, with seeds which have ripened and now carry wonderful fruit."

And now this, from the May 2005 issue of the German publication Adventist Echo:

"Noting the sixtieth anniversary of the end of WWII, Seventh-day Adventist church leaders in Germany and Austria have released a declaration saying they "deeply regret" any participation in or support of Nazi activities during the war. The church bodies "honestly confess" a failure in "following our Lord" by not protecting Jews, and others, from that era's genocide, widely known as the Holocaust. Millions of people perished from war atrocities, including more than 6 million Jews who were exterminated in Nazy persecutions during the 12-year period of 1933 to 1945."

From the Adventist Review:

"We deeply regret that the character of National Socialist dictatorship had not been realized in time and distinctly enough, and the ungodly nature of ideology had not clearly been identified," the statement, as translated from German, reads. The church says it also regrets "that in some of our publications . . . there were found articles glorifying Adolf Hitler and agreeing with the ideology of anti-Semitism in a way that is unbelievable from today's ."

Church leaders also expressed regret that "our peoples became associated with racial fanaticism destroying the lives and freedom of 6 million Jews and representatives of minorities in all of Europe" and "that many Seventh-day Adventists did not share the need and suffering of their Jewish fellow-citizens."


http://community.beliefnet.com/go/thread/view/43851/13242139/Seventh-day_Adventist_support_of_and_participation_in_Hitlers_Nazi_regime_...

[Surya Gayatri]

28. Again, what do Seventh Day Adventists have to do with anything?

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SEVEN DAYS

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[CTyankee]

12. as a former major gifts officer for Planned Parenthood, I always found it ironic and deeply

shameful that PP had to beg for money to provide decent health care for women. It should be provided by the government. That applies to lots of charities.

Since then, of course, we had the creation of obama care and that is appropriate.

I totally understand Bernie's position here...

[pangaia]

20. I am with you on this.

While charities are not a bad thing, the idea of "Let charities do it" is short hand for shrink government until you can flush it down the toilet.

[1monster]

49. Ditto what Pangaia said in post # 20.

Charities should be for enhancements for societies, not for the most basic needs which should be provided for by government safety nets for those are unable, for whatever reason, to provide the basics for themselves.

[appalachiablue]

58. Absolutely.

[mountain grammy]

15. Ha, slanted much?

very funny

[karynnj]

25. You might want to consider that this article is clearly a hit piece -- and question where the writer

is coming from.

Here is one paragraph:
Sanders claimed five exemptions, including himself and wife Jane, two of Jane's kids, and her 81-year-old mother. He claimed $25,372 in itemized deductions, including state incomes taxes, real estate taxes and home mortgage interest. And our beloved congressperson deducted a grand total of $1,369 for "Gifts to Charity." That's all of 1 percent of his impressive income going to charity. Over the years, Bill Clinton's taken bigger deductions for dropping his pre-owned Jockey shorts off at the Salvation Army. Can you say "Scrooge"?

This was a joint return of Jane and Bernie Sanders. What is the problem with claiming those 5 deductions if they were supporting Jane's mom? Not to mention, the high deductions being from state income taxes, real estate taxes and mortgage mean they are all the things most of us take -- and they are NOT things that can be fudged. Sanders, at that point and now, had a condo in DC and a house in Burlington. Vermont state income taxes are more progressive than most and yes, you both pay them and deduct them on the federal form.

What this suggests is that this family of 5, maintaining two homes has high deductions --- because they have high expenses. Now, consider the completely off topic swipe at the Clinton's claiming donation of used underwear!

As to the quote on charities being the Republican answer --- consider that what he is arguing for is NOT that people should not donate to charities, but that the government should have a strong enough safety net that the most basic needs of the poor are met.

You might want to click on other articles for the writer. Here's one on both Sanders and Dean from near the same time - http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/bernie-and-howard/Content?oid=2433246 It's clear he has even less use for Dean, who he calls Ho Ho.

Not to mention, the now deceased writer wasn't too keen on Hillary Clinton either - here is what he wrote when Obama won in 2008.

It's 2:45 on the east coast, and no public concession yet from Hillary Clinton wife of Bill, mother of Chelsea.
But Barack Obama has claimed the Democratic nomination, and behind the scenes the deal is going down, hopefully before the evening network newscasts.

Please, Baracko, please don't give the lovely lady the vice-presidential slot on your ticket.

Please, no more stories about presidential fellatio by White House interns in the Oral, sorry, Oval Office. No more blow jobs that become impeachable offenses.

Please, Obama WHamma. Don't go there.

http://www.sevendaysvt.com/freyneland/archives/2008/06/04/please-obamano

[KPN]

38. Classic right wing tactic -- attack the poorer.

[greiner3]

65. Cause they don't vote

[Kokonoe]

68. Obama did go there.

Now let's put her away again.
thank You to Peter Freyne.

[bread_and_roses]

31. "Charity" is inherently unjust and demeaning

I don't "believe in" or practice "charity" either.

I am not talking about personal acts of kindness or generosity, or donations to causes, but the official structure of charitable giving to provide basic necessities like food, shelter, medical care.

"Charity" gives the donor power over the recipient.

The giver gets to set the criteria. The giver gets to choose who. The giver gets to choose how much. The giver gets bragging rights and a tax write-off. One child gets help, another - thousands and millions of others - dies.

"Charity" solves nothing. It justifies inequality. It is a scam and a sop for the well-off to assuage their conscience.

[KPN]

39. +1000000!!!! Well said!

I give to charitable causes, but very few ... mainly because I research them and have discovered that most aren't all that charitable with the contributions they collect. No question, most of them do good (not all BTW imo), but they also pocket a significant amount of the change.

[AlbertCat]

41. EL CHEAPO!

Yankee - Brooklyn - JEWISH stereotypes? Really?

And you carefully edited I see

"Speaking directly from his Marxist bible (Karl, not Groucho), Ol' Bernardo couldn't conceal the contempt he held for all those well-dressed do-gooders."

Ahhhh.... the ol' red scare tactic (that has yet to work anymore). I'll bet "Ol' Bernardo" didn't act like presented in this ridiculous smear.... who's author died in 2009.

This article is a joke!

[Surya Gayatri]

43. Glad it gave you a chuckle.

I edited the Marxist reference out in deference to his many delicate-flower fans and their sensibilities.

Yes, the Seven Days journalist is now deceased. Is that relevant?

[revbones]

51. The article is still a joke and waste of time.

You've claiming that because he didn't give more to charity that means what? Nothing really. He just supported his mom for a while. Trying to read in the tea leaves for his financial picture during that time is a bit bizarre.

[AlbertCat]

67. because he didn't give more to charity that means what?

Trying to buck up and conflate with the "He hasn't given anything to Dems down the line" meme.... and how just awful that is supposed to be.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

54. you took out that red baiting line just like hillary revises her comments

You have learned well from her grasshopper

[SoLeftIAmRight]

71. many delicate-flower fans and their sensibilities

tell us about the intern - show some spine

[appalachiablue]

61. For real, trash piece. Bernie certainly isn't EL THIEFO unlike many global

elites including public officials in numerous countries we're learning about more every day. Appalling! Can we say CAYMANS and PANAMA for starters?

[angrychair]

56. Total bullshit

This article is from 20 years ago (1996) from some rag that seems to be dedicated to trashing Sanders.

[JDPriestly]

66. Having grown up in a family that worked hard for charities and having worked for a charity

myself, I understand Bernie's skepticism.

First, very few charities can do much with the small donations that people give them. They need big donations to pay staff, maintain buildings and provide services if those services are to make a real difference in people's lives.

I used to do the budgets and write grants for the charity I work for. Trust me on this.

In my line -- helping the homeless -- it was the government grants that we needed. They are economically more efficient. You get one sum of money. You report on how you used that money to one agency. That agency has, hopefully, obtained intelligent, well informed data on the needs of the community and which non-profits are doing a good job at meeting those needs and which ones aren't and selects its recipients well.

When you try to run charities on very little money, and on small donations, you spend a lot dealing with the donations, asking for them, thanking people, and accounting for them.

When you can get larger grants given by large organizations or best of all, the government, then you do not have to spend so much money on fundraising and more can go into programs.

Charity is a wonderful thing, but there is no better way to give charity than to pay a living wage to an employee, a wage that allows him or her to live in dignity without financial assistance, and to pay your taxes and then elect people who will use those taxes for the good of society.

Bernie did wonderful things for the citizens of Burlington, Vermont in terms of low-income housing, a housing trust, free use of swimming pools, etc. That's the kind of charity we need in our society.

Read Bernie's book, An Outsider in the White House, that iand you will see how he uses government to assist needy people.

Also, Bernie has traveled home to Vermont virtually every weekend. That costs a lot of money, but is really important for his constituents.

Bernie is not an extremely rich guy. It may be that he does not publicize his donations. He may not take a deduction for them. We don't know about that.

Jane is a Catholic. It would surprise me if she did not donate to her church.

Apparently the Pope thinks that Bernie gives enough.

[floppyboo]

9. video

&feature=player_detailpage

[CTyankee]

14. Barnicle was impressed...you can tell by the look on his face...and Joe saying

"that's pretty good..." Yeah, Joe, ya think?

[roguevalley]

62. I think he's Catholic. I know Tweety is. I may have to tune in.

[The Blue Flower]

16. Many thanks for posting this clip

I didn't watch Morning Joe this week because I'm so sick of the smears. Bernie's statement was so heartfelt and beautiful, as he always is when talking about these issues.

[GreatGazoo]

21. nice

[pangaia]

22. Bernie's honest, genuine caring is priceless.

He talks about the Pope, not himself. Not I. I I did I will do, I always said that, well I have said in the past...

[florida08]

26. thank you so much

Had not seen it. Bernie at his best when he talks from the heart. Thanks to Mika too

[think]

29. Wonderful segment. Thank you. Bernie's passion is so evident. Injecting a moral consequence into

into the economy.

Wow...

[bemildred]

17. Now THAT'S a bully pulpit. nt

[mainer]

24. I guess the Pope recognizes a kindred spirit

They both advocate for policies that help the poor.

[reddread]

27. wait till Big Dog turns on Catholic voters

I hope I dont miss that golden moment.

[KPN]

40. Oooh. I think you're right. That should be fun to watch!

[LongTomH]

60. Oh yeah!!!! Pass the popcorn!

[mckara]

30. Just Like Jake and Elwood: He's On a Mission from God!

The evangelical "Christians" should be feeling the sting, too.

[FailureToCommunicate]

33. Bernie is calling on all of us to "get the band back together" !

[mckara]

36. +1

[beastie boy]

34. Now that Bernie will have the Pope's ear,

I hope he will use this unique opportunity to communicate his stance on guns, abortion, gay rights and separation of church and state.

Perhaps he can also address the Vatican Bank's financial shenanigans and its alleged connections to the global banksters and the mob.

No better person to do this than Bernie. Will he?

[FailureToCommunicate]

45. Baby steps, baby steps. If any Pope can get the RC Church to evolve it could be

this one. The Pope listens to lots of thinkers, not unlike the President. That doesn't mean he will make the changes he hears about.

My father pleaded with a previous Pope that the Church should recognize the rights of women, especially the millions of nuns and Catholic workers around the globe, but his plea was dismissed.

But I'm glad to see that you think Bernie would be the right person to present your list of issues to His Holiness.

[beastie boy]

48. I would hate for him to waste the opportunity. The question is

whether he will be principled enough to challenge the Pope on any of the issues I listed, or will he settle for publicity?

[FailureToCommunicate]

50. Maybe you missed my point. One could be as principled as a saint, and not be able to

persuade the Pope to affect change in the entire Roman Catholic Church, or even the Vatican.

[leftofcool]

70. Too bad the Pope won't be there and Bernie is not speaking.

[Omaha Steve]

52. When Bernie spoke in Iowa last July he mentioned the Pope and said...

"He is left of me politically."

It is a meeting of two like minds.

OS

[MisterP]

57. Catholicism's been officially distributist for like 185 years now

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributism

[imagine2015]

55. K & R

[LongTomH]

59. Not to be upstaged, Hillary is hosting a $2,700-a-plate fundraiser on the same day

Sanders to Discuss Inequality at the Vatican While Clinton Hosts a $2,700 a Plate Fundraiser:

On Friday, April 15, Bernie Sanders will travel to the Vatican to discuss the global economy and environmental sustainability with Pope Francis. He’ll also attend a conference on social, environmental, and economic issues, hosted by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences.

“Pope Francis has made clear that we must overcome ‘the globalization of indifference’ in order to reduce economic inequalities, stop financial corruption and protect the natural environment. That is our challenge in the United States and in the world,” Sanders said in a public statement.

That same day, Hillary Clinton will be attending a fundraiser in the global financial capital of Hong Kong, hosted by Gary Gensler, her campaign’s Chief Financial Officer. Gensler walked through the revolving door from Wall Street to Washington’s financial regulatory system. Prior to heading up the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s (CFTC) regulation of derivative swaps, Gensler was a partner at Goldman Sachs. The fundraiser can only be attended by those willing to donate the maximum allowable contribution of $2,700.

Sanders’ meeting with the Pope and Clinton’s Hong Kong fundraiser come just one day after their debate in Brooklyn, and just four days before New York Democrats vote in their state’s primary. Sanders’ meeting with Pope Francis comes at a particularly critical time, as some of the states next in line to vote are also some of the most Catholic in the United States.

According to this list compiled by the Huffington Post, three of the five most Catholic states are voting in the ten days following Sanders’ meeting with the Pope. New York is 37 percent Catholic, making it the fifth-most Catholic state. Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island — all voting on April 26 — come in at #4, #9, and #1 on that list, respectively. Should Sanders’ meeting with the Pope go well, Catholic voters could be the linchpin to Sanders’ success in those states.

You really can't make this stuff up!!!!

[progressoid]

63. Shameless.

I wonder if they even understand what its like for us and the bottom? I can think of exactly zero people who have that kind of disposable money.

Correction. I know one person. She's a Republican so unlikely to attend.

[SoapBox]

69. We need you to be President Bernie!