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A Plea to Pope

'I forgot why we give tax exemptions to churches and spiritual leaders. I think it was because they serve a function for our country. In other words, I think it’s because capitalism makes no provisions for protecting the vulnerable, the sick and the aged — at all.…So, when the lobbyists come up to support the capitalistic system, who’s supposed to come up to support the values? Where do they come from for the American people?'

Rep. Charles Rangel, former
chair of the House Ways and
Means Committee. Quoted in
'Will Pope Francis hear Charlie
Rangel's Plea?'