I have to admit that I am astonished at the profound ignorance, if that’s what it is, evidenced by those opining negatively on Senator Sanders being invited to the Vatican by Bishop Marcello Sanchez Sorono.
Some of these “opinions” verge on a particularly noxious type of CT. Specifically the suggestion that Sanders invited himself. By what mysterious and arcane power Sanders could force himself on the Holy See isn’t explained but that hasn’t given those pushing this canard a pause.
Likewise, there have been ridiculous allegations that by saying he was invited by the Vatican, Sanders was claiming a personal invitation from Pope Francis. That he was invited by the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, not the Vatican. That all this was somehow done without the knowledge or consent of the Pope, ad absurdum.
What all this really indicates is either an abysmal lack of knowledge concerning the Governance of the Catholic Church, or an attempt to exploit such, on the part of the critics.
First, “The Vatican” is not a synonym for “The Pope”. It is used informally to refer to the "Holy See", which is “the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, the episcopal see of the Pope, and an independent sovereign entity.” So the claim that it refers directly to the Pope, or that Sanders was drawing such an equivalence, is thoroughly bogus.
Next, the suggestion that the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences isn’t a part of the Vatican is ludicrous since, not only is it located in the Vatican, it was established by and operates directly under its authority.
More to the point though, is who actually issued the invitation: Bishop Marcello Sanchez Sorondo. So who is Sorondo? In addition to being the Chancellor of the Academy, Bishop Marcello Sanchez Sorondo was personally appointed to the Pontifical Commission for Latin America by Pope Benedict. The Commission is a Dept.of the Roman Curia.
Why is this significant? Because:
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See[notes 1] and the central body through which the Roman Pontiff conducts the affairs of the universal Catholic Church. It acts in his name and with his authority for the good and for the service of the particular Churches and provides the necessary central organization for the correct functioning of the Church and the achievement of its goals.[1][2][3]
In short, the Roman Curia and its Departments are The Vatican. Bishop Serrano is a Vatican Official. Ergo, the invitation was issued by the Vatican. The Bishop’s status also makes explicit the Vatican’s authority over the Academy.
Moreover, this dispenses with the idea that the invitation was made without the Pope’s knowledge or consent, since as an official of the Curia, Bishop Sorondo acts in the Pope’s name and with his authority.
So like it or not, Senator Sanders was invited by the Vatican and there’s no reasonable doubt that the Pope was aware of the invitation.
Hopefully this will keep anymore of HRC’s supporters from tumbling down the rabbit hole of partisan bile and bias.
The honest ones at least.
