Vaticanapalooza

P.G. Wodehouse--the originator of the term 'lollapalooza'--once remarked on how easy it was to look upon the tasks necessary to earning one's paycheck as 'wasted time'. He would probably have appreciated the orgy of self-congratulation going on at the Vatican this week';

Birmingham Mayor William Bell had a very personal reason for being at the Vatican's conference on climate change and human slavery.

We're sure he does.

Bell said he was pleased to heed Pope Francis' call for an end to all forms of modern-day slavery.

Applause! But some in attendance needed to reach a little;

Oslo Mayor Stian Berger Rosland got a round of applause at the Vatican conference of mayors not because of Oslo's leading efforts in sustainable development or the way it integrates immigrants.

Rather, Rosland was cheered when he revealed how honored he was to be at the Vatican as "the first Catholic mayor of Oslo since the Reformation."

That's cutting edge.

The mayor [Monica Fein] of Rosario, Argentina, said she was convinced that history's first Latin American pope had the moral authority to contribute to a "new conscience" that changes the global economic system.

No doubt.

Madrid's new leftist mayor, Manuela Carmena, has told a Vatican-organized debate on climate change and human trafficking that society needs to ask itself why people use prostitutes.

Carmena said Tuesday that students in schools should debate "why one goes with prostitutes, why one accepts prostitution, etc. This needs to be done."

She said if the world wants to avoid the "terrible crime" of sexual slavery, society needs to reflect upon its causes. She said society has not been educated enough about sexuality.

Maybe the Mayor of Madrid should see to it that more people have cable TV in her city.

Pope Francis is expected to address the meeting later Tuesday. He's a new hero to the environmental movement, thanks to his recent encyclical denouncing the world's fossil fuel-based economy that he says exploits the poor and destroys the Earth.

The mayors are expected to sign a declaration at the end of the day demanding that their national leaders approve a "bold climate agreement" at Paris talks in December that keeps global warming at a safe limit for humanity.

Now, about the sin of pride, Padre....

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/business/article27995065.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/business/article27995065.html#storylink=cpy