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Anti-Hunger Group Denounces Glenn Beck 'Social Justice' Comments, Sets Up Online Petition

March 12, 2010 3:13 pm ET by Joe Strupp

The latest organization to criticize Glenn Beck for his claim that churches preaching social justice or economic justice are using code words for Communism or Nazism is Bread for the World.

The anti-hunger group based in Washington, D.C., not only issued a statement denouncing Beck's comments, it set up a petition aimed at gathering support against Beck's views. Spokesman Brian Malone says the petition has already gathered 8,500 names and hopes to reach 35,000 by the end of the weekend.

"It shows where people's minds are and what people are thinking," Malone told me. When the petition is complete, he said Bread for the World will present it to Beck with a copy of a Poverty and Justice Bible.

The petition was launched after Bread for the World issued the following statement late Thursday in response to Beck's comments from March 2:

Recently Fox News Host Glenn Beck urged his audience to leave their congregations if the church mentioned "social" or "economic" justice. Beck told his listeners and viewers that the terms are code words for communism and Nazism.

"Jesus called us to care for 'the least of these,' social justice is central to the Gospel," said Rev. David Beckmann, president, Bread for the World. "No matter where you fall in the political spectrum, it is impossible for biblically-literate people to deny the thousands of verses in the Bible about hunger and poverty."


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    • Author by jrm1750 (March 12, 2010 5:35 pm ET)
      1 7
      While Glenn Beck can be over the top, I see no problem with him denouncing governmental social justice as a synonym for socialism. To try and equate Bible passages calling for caring for your fellopw man and feeding the hungry to being against socialist policies is reidiculous.
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      • Author by mmfa.fan (March 12, 2010 11:44 pm ET)
        5  
        That's not what he said though. He said that people should leave their congregation of their church espouses social justice.
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      • Author by sodium (March 14, 2010 9:33 am ET)
        2  
        jrm1750:"I see no problem with him (beck) denouncing governmental social justice as a synonym for socialism."

        That's because of two reasons.

        1. You "see no problem" because you didn't look hard enough.

        2. You "see no problem" because you have no understanding of "socialism".

        hth...;p)
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    • Author by HarmlessOldman (March 12, 2010 6:28 pm ET)
         
      If you read the Gospels you will see that in ALL of Jesus' sermons he is speaking to individuals in admonishing them to help their neighbor. Christianity is a religion of individuals doing the right thing. Whether it is spreading the Gospel, feeding the hungry or ministering to the sick. When Organized Religious Organization get involved it is like a Pseudo Government. Take the "taxpayers money" and use it like the powers that be want. I have no problem with a minister preaching about benevolence, but I do have a problem with a Church or Church organization trying to impact public policy! "Render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto GOD what is GOD'S." The first century churches helped the members who had needs, but did not ask Rome nor the provincial governments to do their jobs! Let the congregation say AMEN!
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    • Author by ny2nc (March 12, 2010 8:27 pm ET)
      3  
      So "social justice" is the new boogeyman phrase this week?

      Matthew 25:31-46 (New International Version)

      The Sheep and the Goats
      31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
      34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

      37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

      40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

      41"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

      44"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

      45"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

      46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."


      You have not chosen wisely, Mr. Beck.

      AGAIN.


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    • Author by Kikabi (March 12, 2010 9:55 pm ET)
      3 1
      I went to theBread of the World's site and signed their petition. I hope everyone will and help them get to 35,0000 supporters.


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    • Author by jflz201884 (March 13, 2010 7:27 am ET)
      7  
      Beck probably imagined he had lots of support on this. His warning against "social justice" echoes Rudy Giuliani and Sarah Palin, whose speeches at the 2008 Republican National Convention derided "community organizing." That, of course, was an allusion to Barack Obama's early 1990s empowerment of the disregarded in society. Fox News has furthered the smearing of community organizing among the poor -- notably in its attacks on ACORN.

      Giuliani's and Palin's rhetorical flourishes, however, found lots of observers, Republicans included, scratching their heads: "Isn't neighborhood outreach one of our priorities at church?"

      Concern for "the least of these" is common to virtually all faiths. It even drives some who have no use for organized religion except for its ability to leverage volunteers.

      Beck apparently hadn't thought that over when he blasted social justice and urged abandonment of any church that practices it. Serious reflection is not one of his strengths.

      Jerry Elsea
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      • Author by RSJ (March 13, 2010 9:32 am ET)
           
        Glenn Beck is playing a very dangerous game, considering the position he's in as a TV host. As with other fading celebrities who have their PR people release bizarre stories about them to keep their names in the tabloids, Beck has to continue 'topping himself' with new crazy accusations as his audience becomes inured to his old rants in order to maintain his ratings -- eventually, he's going to reach the point where he can't go any crazier, and then that's the end for him.

        However, I think this attack on one of the basic precepts of Christianity -- helping the poor -- will get him in trouble with both conservative and liberal evangelical Christians. He just barely survived his ludicrous rant that Obama hates white people, and lost his A-list advertisers as a result; I don't think he can endure after implying Jesus was both a Communist and a Nazi. Even his meal-ticket gold-buyers might be swayed to spend their advertising dollars elsewhere after this latest spate of self-destructive madness.

        As a sidenote, I think half of Beck's viewers are just watching to see him meltdown and laugh at his antics, the same way college kids used to tune in Jerry Springer to giggle at the yahoos he featured as guests. Again, to keep them viewing, he's going to have to top himself in outrageous nuttiness -- what's next, embracing an al-Qaeda terrorist attack on the White House?

        I think this loose cannon will be off Fox News in another year or so, once he runs out of BS.
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      • Author by Bobby Jindal fan (March 15, 2010 1:17 am ET)
          1
        ACORN supports bringing 13 year olds to this country to hold as sex slaves. James O'Keefe and Hannah Giles courageously documented this, and Fox presented them a forum to expose the criminally corrupt group.
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        • Author by scanlontodd9871 (March 15, 2010 8:58 am ET)
             
          BJF you must have been kicked in the head by a mule when you were a kid to still think that ACORN actually supports this. What a moron.
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    • Author by The_Cat (March 13, 2010 9:05 pm ET)
      2  
      Signed the petition and Facebook'd it. Hopefully, Mr. Beck, your loss of ad revenue followed by your loss of viewership will, in the free market, result in your being demoted to street corner soap box haranguer.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by sodium (March 13, 2010 10:33 pm ET)
      2  
      Signed.


      Just wish I could sign twice.


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    • Author by TURK 63 (March 14, 2010 12:47 pm ET)
        1
      The only way to get rid of this clown is to contact his advertisers and tell them you will not patronize them as long as they support Beck.
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      • Author by Bobby Jindal fan (March 15, 2010 1:18 am ET)
           
        I make a specific point to patronize the sponsors of Glenn and Rush.
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    • Author by dmeyer1982 (March 14, 2010 9:07 pm ET)
        1
      Sorry guys. Beck's right. Jesus Christ had no interest in government ("render unto Ceasar the things that are Ceasar's...) His was a personal message. We..I mean WE..are to do these things in his name to bring glory to God. Having the government do it does not honor God. And most of you folks would freak out if the 10 commandments were on public property, so quit claiming this pious BS.
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    • Author by chamay0 (March 15, 2010 9:01 am ET)
         
      I signed and sent the link to some friends hoping they will sign as well.
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