ST. LOUIS (MO)
Berger’s Beat
“NOT TO BE LOST IN POMP & CIRCUMSTANCE OF POPE FRANCIS’ first visit to Washington is the reality that the Catholic Church he oversees has become one of the largest recipients of federal largesse in America,” reports Kelly Riddell. “The church and related Catholic charities and schools have collected more than $1.6 billion since 2012 in U.S. contracts and grants in a far-reaching relationship that spans from school lunches for grammar school students to contracts across the globe to care for the poor and needy at the expense of Uncle Sam,” a Washington Times review of federal spending records shows.
MEANWHILE, our town’s Barbara Dorris of SNAP is dogging the pontiff, leading support group meetings, leafleting events and news conferences in D.C. and Philly while SNAP prez Barbara Blaine, a SLU alum, does the same in NYC.
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