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WASHINGTON -- Republican and Democrats sparred this week on where Jesus Christ would stand on food stamps, a federal program that supported 47 million Americans last year.

On Wednesday, the House Agriculture Committee approved Republican legislation that would reform farm subsidies and trim the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by roughly $2.5 billion a year. Republicans want fewer Americans to qualify for food stamps simply because they receive benefits from another safety net program. Under the new legislation, more people would have to pass income and asset tests to be eligible for food stamps. Nearly 2 million fewer people would qualify.

Rep. Juan Vargas, a California Democrat and former member of the Jesuits, a Catholic religious order, said he favored a Democratic amendment to undo the cuts because Jesus made himself clear on feeding the poor.

"Jesus kinda fools around and gives you parables. He doesn't oftentimes say exactly what he means," Vargas said. "But in Matthew 25 he's very, very clear. And he delineates what it takes to get into the kingdom of heaven very, very clearly. And he says how you treat the least among us, the least of our brothers, that's how you treat him."

In Matthew 25, Jesus describes those who will enter heaven as anyone who gave him food when he was hungry, invited him into their homes when he was a stranger, clothed him, cared for him while he was sick and visited him in prison. "The extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me," Jesus says...

Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas) said during the hearing that he, too, is a follower of Christ.

"I read this chapter of Matthew 25 to speak to me as an individual," Conaway, a Southern Baptist, said. "I don't read it to speak to the United States government. And so I would take a little bit of umbrage with you on that. Clearly, you and I are charged that we do those kinds of things but [our government is not] charged with that."...

While religious leaders in the U.S. have thrown their weight behind food stamps and government assistance programs, Pope Francis also spoke more broadly Thursday on his views on "cult of money" in his first address at the Vatican global finance.

Addressing new ambassadors to the Vatican, Francis described the prevalence around the world of an "an economy which is faceless and lacking any truly humane goal," resulting in people who "have to struggle to live and, frequently, to live in an undignified way."

"In circumstances like these, solidarity, which is the treasure of the poor, is often considered counterproductive, opposed to the logic of finance and the economy. While the income of a minority is increasing exponentially, that of the majority is crumbling," Francis said. "This imbalance results from ideologies which uphold the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation, and thus deny the right of control to states, which are themselves charged with providing for the common good."

BDKJMU wrote:No. Jesus wouldn't be dumb enough to believe a huffpo article that there were actually any cuts in food stamps.

On Wednesday, the House Agriculture Committee approved Republican legislation that would reform farm subsidies and trim the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by roughly $2.5 billion a year. Republicans want fewer Americans to qualify for food stamps simply because they receive benefits from another safety net program. Under the new legislation, more people would have to pass income and asset tests to be eligible for food stamps. Nearly 2 million fewer people would qualify.

Col Hogan wrote:The Pope never endorsed Government spending with his statement...he had long been critical of the greed that has grown in this world that approves of wealth growth without responsibility for our fellow man...

Yes, I believe that Jesus made feeding the poor an individual responsibility...and not a responsibility that can simply be cast onto the government through taxes ...

If you truly believe in his charge to feed the poor...JUST DO IT...give out of your own pocket to those who do the work...government skims soooooo much off the top..

"Francis described the prevalence around the world of an "an economy which is faceless and lacking any truly humane goal"

kalm wrote:

Col Hogan wrote:The Pope never endorsed Government spending with his statement...he had long been critical of the greed that has grown in this world that approves of wealth growth without responsibility for our fellow man...

Yes, I believe that Jesus made feeding the poor an individual responsibility...and not a responsibility that can simply be cast onto the government through taxes ...

If you truly believe in his charge to feed the poor...JUST DO IT...give out of your own pocket to those who do the work...government skims soooooo much off the top..

"Francis described the prevalence around the world of an "an economy which is faceless and lacking any truly humane goal"

CID1990 wrote:

kalm wrote:

Sounds like commie propaganda to me. [/quote

Sounds like you didn't read what Hogan wrote.]



Sent from the center of the universe.

kalm wrote:

CID1990 wrote:
Sounds like commie propaganda to me. [/quote

Sounds like you didn't read what Hogan wrote.]



Sent from the center of the universe.

Sounds like you don't understand how economies are regulated. Or how to properly use a quote function.

CID1990 wrote:

kalm wrote:
Sounds like you don't understand how economies are regulated. Or how to properly use a quote function.

If you'd like me to talk about the finer points of economic meddling I mean regulation I'd be happy to but I assumed it would be over your head.


Sent from the center of the universe.

death dealer wrote:No, but his Dad would bail him out. the fed doesn't have that kind of backing.

Rep. Juan Vargas, a California Democrat and former member of the Jesuits, a Catholic religious order, said he favored a Democratic amendment to undo the cuts because Jesus made himself clear on feeding the poor.

Pwns wrote:

Rep. Juan Vargas, a California Democrat and former member of the Jesuits, a Catholic religious order, said he favored a Democratic amendment to undo the cuts because Jesus made himself clear on feeding the poor.

Darn theocrats basing legislation on the Bible!

kalm wrote:

BDKJMU wrote:No. Jesus wouldn't be dumb enough to believe a huffpo article that there were actually any cuts in food stamps.

On Wednesday, the House Agriculture Committee approved Republican legislation that would reform farm subsidies and trim the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by roughly $2.5 billion a year. Republicans want fewer Americans to qualify for food stamps simply because they receive benefits from another safety net program. Under the new legislation, more people would have to pass income and asset tests to be eligible for food stamps. Nearly 2 million fewer people would qualify.

No. Congress isn't debating cutting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

This could be a rather intriguing philosophical debate...big boy intellectual stuff. Might want to sit this one out BDK.

HI54UNI wrote:So is this a real cut or a "Washington" cut where there is more money but less than what somebody wants?

Col Hogan wrote:The Pope never endorsed Government spending with his statement...he had long been critical of the greed that has grown in this world that approves of wealth growth without responsibility for our fellow man...

Yes, I believe that Jesus made feeding the poor an individual responsibility...and not a responsibility that can simply be cast onto the government through taxes ...

If you truly believe in his charge to feed the poor...JUST DO IT...give out of your own pocket to those who do the work...government skims soooooo much off the top..

kalm wrote:So the teachings of Jesus only apply to us as individuals? Is that true in all aspects of government?

Should able bodied and minded adults really qualify for food stamps?

kalm wrote:So the teachings of Jesus only apply to us as individuals? Is that true in all aspects of government?

Should able bodied and minded adults really qualify for food stamps?

Is the pope a commie? If so...are all catholics commies?

Lots of good questions from this article.

WASHINGTON -- Republican and Democrats sparred this week on where Jesus Christ would stand on food stamps, a federal program that supported 47 million Americans last year.

On Wednesday, the House Agriculture Committee approved Republican legislation that would reform farm subsidies and trim the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by roughly $2.5 billion a year. Republicans want fewer Americans to qualify for food stamps simply because they receive benefits from another safety net program. Under the new legislation, more people would have to pass income and asset tests to be eligible for food stamps. Nearly 2 million fewer people would qualify.

Rep. Juan Vargas, a California Democrat and former member of the Jesuits, a Catholic religious order, said he favored a Democratic amendment to undo the cuts because Jesus made himself clear on feeding the poor.

"Jesus kinda fools around and gives you parables. He doesn't oftentimes say exactly what he means," Vargas said. "But in Matthew 25 he's very, very clear. And he delineates what it takes to get into the kingdom of heaven very, very clearly. And he says how you treat the least among us, the least of our brothers, that's how you treat him."

In Matthew 25, Jesus describes those who will enter heaven as anyone who gave him food when he was hungry, invited him into their homes when he was a stranger, clothed him, cared for him while he was sick and visited him in prison. "The extent that you did it to one of these brothers of mine, even the least of them, you did it to me," Jesus says...

Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas) said during the hearing that he, too, is a follower of Christ.

"I read this chapter of Matthew 25 to speak to me as an individual," Conaway, a Southern Baptist, said. "I don't read it to speak to the United States government. And so I would take a little bit of umbrage with you on that. Clearly, you and I are charged that we do those kinds of things but [our government is not] charged with that."...

While religious leaders in the U.S. have thrown their weight behind food stamps and government assistance programs, Pope Francis also spoke more broadly Thursday on his views on "cult of money" in his first address at the Vatican global finance.

Addressing new ambassadors to the Vatican, Francis described the prevalence around the world of an "an economy which is faceless and lacking any truly humane goal," resulting in people who "have to struggle to live and, frequently, to live in an undignified way."

"In circumstances like these, solidarity, which is the treasure of the poor, is often considered counterproductive, opposed to the logic of finance and the economy. While the income of a minority is increasing exponentially, that of the majority is crumbling," Francis said. "This imbalance results from ideologies which uphold the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation, and thus deny the right of control to states, which are themselves charged with providing for the common good."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/1 ... 93982.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BDKJMU wrote:

HI54UNI wrote:So is this a real cut or a "Washington" cut where there is more money but less than what somebody wants?

Ding, ding, we have a winner. Now go explain that to Kalm.

houndawg wrote:

Col Hogan wrote:The Pope never endorsed Government spending with his statement...he had long been critical of the greed that has grown in this world that approves of wealth growth without responsibility for our fellow man...

Yes, I believe that Jesus made feeding the poor an individual responsibility...and not a responsibility that can simply be cast onto the government through taxes ...

If you truly believe in his charge to feed the poor...JUST DO IT...give out of your own pocket to those who do the work...government skims soooooo much off the top..

Like it wasn't before the recycled Egyptian sun-god myth we call Jesus made his debut? I think people were feeding the poor long before that.

kalm wrote:

BDKJMU wrote:
Ding, ding, we have a winner. Now go explain that to Kalm.

1) I don't know whether it is or not

2). Growth also includes population increases.

3. I'm VERY suspicious of the effectiveness of welfare programs. Including the corporate welfare that I'm sure some of these cutters fully support.

4). I'm more interested in the greater philosophical debate.

BDKJMU wrote:

kalm wrote:
1) I don't know whether it is or not

2). Growth also includes population increases.

3. I'm VERY suspicious of the effectiveness of welfare programs. Including the corporate welfare that I'm sure some of these cutters fully support.

4). I'm more interested in the greater philosophical debate.

Population increases, JFC! Under Obama, aka the food stamp president:
Population has increased about 5%, since Obama has come into office (about 1% a yr). Enrollment has increased close to 60%
Inflation 2008-2012 was 7% (bls inflation calculator). Monthly per person benefits have gone up 30%.

2008 was 28.223 million people on food stamps, avg monthly benefit $102.19, $37.642 billion spent
2012 was 46.609 million people on food stamps, avg monthly benefit $133.41, $78.428 billion spent

All the above info is available from the usda (you've got to scroll around a bit to see it all):
http://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/SNAPsummary.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So under Obama enrollment has shot up about 12 times the rate of population growth, and per person benefits have shot up about 4x the rate of inflation, andyet you are complaining about republicans trying to trim A LITTLE of the fat? JFC!