Have to ask sincerely, do you really think the Pope didn't have to sign off on the list?

[GreatGazoo]

or do you think some Cardinal just fessed up at the morning meeting like "oh by the way I kind of inserted the Vatican into the US Democratic Primaries at a key moment in the race. Hope you're cool with that."

The Vatican is knows what it is doing here. It may surprise conservative Catholics to see Sanders picked over others but this is a different Pope and he shares some goals with Sanders.

[NanceGreggs]

1. I doubt that the Pope "signed off" on anything to do with this conference.

And where on earth did you get the "Sanders was picked over others" meme?

[NWCorona]

2. I would think they had a short and long list.

Bernie made the cut

[NanceGreggs]

4. And you would think wrong. n/t

[NWCorona]

5. Prove me wrong?

[NanceGreggs]

6. Prove yourself right.

You're the one claiming that there was a long list/short list. Let's see the evidence.

[Fumesucker]

8. Well clearly the Vatican never considered Hillary for a conference about the worship of money

So yeah, it's doubtful there was a list with anyone else but Bernie on it.

[NanceGreggs]

10. Where is the list? n/t

[Fumesucker]

13. I was agreeing with you, there was no list, there was no need for a list in the first place

Bernie was so far ahead of other theoretical choices that a list was totally unnecessary.

[NanceGreggs]

14. Who were the other choices?

Apparently, Jeffrey Sachs has stated that he "had helped the Vatican arrange the invitation to Sanders." “[But] the academy sent the invitation, it’s pure and simple,” (Sachs) told The Atlantic."

That doesn't sound like Bernie was "chosen" among other "theoretical choices", but simply that he was suggested as a potential attendee by Sachs.

If "the Vatican" - and it's not in this case; it's the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, which is an autonomous body - wanted to invite Bernie in the first instance, why would the invitation need to be "arranged"?

This story has gone from the Pope invited Bernie to well, not exactly the Pope to Bernie's been invited to give a speech to well, not exactly ... but he IS one of the attendees - and now to this OP about how the Pope must have personally signed-off on Bernie's invitation because "he was picked over others" to attend.

Despite all of the spin on this story, we know that Bernie wasn't "chosen" to attend. His attendance was suggested by a third party, and the PASS okayed that attendance. Trying to spin this into a "he was chosen above all others" meme is as lacking in fact as it is dripping with desperation.

[Fumesucker]

15. Nah, I'm just saying it to tweak you

You're easy to wind up as the Brits say. First you were sure there was no list and then when I agreed with that you had a snit about the way I agreed.

Sanders was chosen and Hillary was not, the optics of her hoovering up giant stacks of 1% cash while Bernie speaks on economic justice is just too deliciously ironic.

[NanceGreggs]

18. There was no "snit".

There was never a list, and Bernie wasn't "chosen" above others.

It's as simple as that. I'm not the one trying to spin this into "an invitation from the Pope" - which many here are still doing - nor am I the one attempting to put a positive face on this entire debacle.

Tad Devine told MSNBC that he couldn't comment on the mix-up because he didn't have all the details.

"But I'll tell you this: I know the politics of the New York primary are extraordinarily complicated," he said. "As a lifelong practicing Roman Catholic, I can't even imagine how complicated the politics of the Vatican are, so I'm gonna find out before I say anything on that issue."

Maybe Tad Devine should KNOW what goes on in the campaign he's allegedly running, so that when conflicting stories emerge, he could actually state what the FACTS are.

This "invitation" could have been a really good PR opportunity for Bernie. But between the ineptitude of his campaign and the exaggeration of its importance and origins by BS supporters, it's devolved into a mass of conflicting tales that will hurt Bernie more than help him.

[polly7]

3. I bet the Pope, knowing of Sanders commitment to so many of the things he's trying

to get action on fully knew Sanders had been invited and personally saw and approved each name on that list. To think otherwise isn't realistic at all, imo.

The Vatican isn't just some hosting venue for whoevertf academics want to meet with.

[Barack_America]

11. The Vatican maybe even be aware that Sanders matches up better against Trump.

It's pretty clear how the Pope feels about him.

[CentralCoaster]

7. It was the Pope's original idea, I believe

Last edited Sun Apr 10, 2016, 01:46 AM - Edit history (1)

It's also an implied endorsement.

[NanceGreggs]

19. Link please?

A link to where this was the Pope's (or Pipe's) original idea?

TIA.

[JackRiddler]

9. Obviously and everyone sees this other than those...

who have chosen not to see it because they are pushing Clinton campaign disinfo no matter what.

[Avalux]

12. Yep - Sorondo said the Pope thought it was a good idea to invite Bernie.

Might I even hasten to say (since Sorondo is a close aide to Pope Francis), that the Pontiff himself wanted Bernie, and had Sorondo invite him so it wouldn't be overly politicized.

Of course Pope Francis knew and agreed.

[CentralCoaster]

16. I think his Holiness either originated the idea or gave it a big holy thumbs up!

Best Pope Ever!

[seaglass]

21. Just to make sure you see this.

“I would have invited Hillary Clinton too if I thought she would accept,” Sorondo said, adding that he did not consult the pope on the Sanders invitation.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sanders-ties-his-advocacy-for-a-moral-economy-to-the-work-of-pope-francis/2016/04/09/1082454e-fe58-11e5-80e4-c381214de1a3_story.html?postshare=5551460219544263&tid=ss_tw

[ContinentalOp]

17. And if he did am I supposed to be impressed?

Funny how the supposedly more progressive anti-establishment candidate is so excited to associate himself with the pope! Imagine the reactions from Sanders supporters if it were the other way around.

[seaglass]

20. He did not sign off.

“I would have invited Hillary Clinton too if I thought she would accept,” Sorondo said, adding that he did not consult the pope on the Sanders invitation.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sanders-ties-his-advocacy-for-a-moral-economy-to-the-work-of-pope-francis/2016/04/09/1082454e-fe58-11e5-80e4-c381214de1a3_story.html?postshare=5551460219544263&tid=ss_tw

[JVS]

22. No. I don't think the pope would need to sign off on that.

[DrDan]

23. anything to get the Pope into the equation . . . sad

[Trenzalore]

24. The invitation wasn't signed by the Pope

So no.