An Episcopalian Who Understands Catholic Leadership

Midwest Conservative Journal ^ | February 1, 2004 | Christopher S. Johnson

[NYer]

AND NOW...IDIOTS

New St. Louis Roman Catholic Archbishop Raymond Burke has been much in the news lately over his instructions to his priests to refuse to give Communion to Catholic legislators who vote for abortion.  After his recent enthronement at the Cathedral Basilica here, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch asked two non-Catholic Christian leaders for their reaction.  The president of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod was very impressed:

Among the interfaith guests at the Mass was the Rev. Gerald Kieschnick, president of the 2.6 million-member Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, based in Kirkwood.

"(Archbishop Burke) got off to a great start making a clear stand against abortion, something that the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has stood by Roman Catholics with from the start," Kieschnick said.

Guess who wasn't too thrilled.  Yup.

The leader of Eastern Missouri's 14,000 Episcopalians was not impressed.

"(Burke) really tried to persuade people with his moral teaching but he will find that Missourians don't take kindly to being told what to think and what to do," said Bishop G. Wayne Smith, leader of the Episcopal diocese.

Sigh.  Right about now, G. Wayne, my connection to the Episcopal Church into which I was baptized is like my sex life.  Entirely theoretical.  But it won't even be that if you don't stop, well...saying things.

Here's how it works, G. Wayne.  If I were to walk into my local Catholic church wearing my brand-new John Calvin sweatshirt(currently on sale, FYI), carrying my copy of the Institutes of the Christian Religion under my arm and proclaiming my disbelief in transubstantiation, I'm pretty sure that they're not going to give me Communion.  Know why that is, G. Wayne?

Argue as I might with Catholic theology, I have to concede one extremely important fact.  The Roman Catholic Church takes Communion very seriously and won't give it to just anybody.  And they won't trivialize Communion just to make some Webster Groves Calvinist happy or to make someone without principles feel better about himself.  Communion in the Catholic church is a privilege, G. Wayne.  IT...IS...NOT...A...RIGHT!!

Archbishop Burke is not telling Missouri Catholics "what to think and what to do," you fatuous dolt.  He is declaring that the Catholic church believes things and if Missouri Catholics don't agree with what the Catholic church believes, they should stay away from Communion until they do.  But since the Episcopal Church doesn't have beliefs that it's not willing to abandon, I can see why you might have difficulty comprehending a Christian who's no longer willing to compromise the Gospel in exchange for secular approval.

[NYer]

Lol! He has a better understanding of the Eucharist than most catholics!

[NYer]

Archbishop Raymond L. Burke

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

With this letter, I wholeheartedly commend to you the Real Presence Association which has as its noble purpose the promotion of worship of the Most Blessed Sacrament, especially through the establishment of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in parishes. In a particular way, I commend to you the excellent manual for establishing Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in a parish, which the Real Presence Association has developed.

In times of great crisis and suffering, Catholics rightly turn to prayer before the Most Blessed Sacrament exposed in the monstrance. The consecrated Host is the efficacious sign of God the Father's infinite love and mercy toward us. In prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, we place into the Heart of the Incarnate Redeemer all our cares and trials.

Today, especially, we pray before the Real Presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ for the protection of all human life and, in particular, the lives of the innocent and defenseless unborn and of those who have grown weak under the burden of years, illness or special needs. We bring to the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus the needs of our parishes and friends, of those who have asked for our prayers, and of those for whom we are bound, in charity, to pray.

May the apostolate of the Real Presence Association flourish for the building up of the Church in faith, hope and love.

Asking God's blessing upon you and your homes, I am

Yours devotedly in Christ,

(Most Rev.) Raymond L. Burke
Bishop of La Crosse

* * * * *

REMINDER:

February 6
Bishop Raymond Burke (Archbishop of St. Louis) Conduct of diocesan pro-abortion Catholic politicians (Re-air)

[Catholicguy]

Archbishop Burke is not telling Missouri Catholics "what to think and what to do," you fatuous dolt.

:)

[AnAmericanMother]

Holy Catfish, Andy!

Preach it, brother!

(I love the image of the hard-core Calvinist mounting a demonstration. But it begs one question . . . why on earth would such a person WANT to receive in a Catholic church? I could see him legging it for the pulpit and denouncing everybody, but not standing in the line saying, "My Lord I am not worthy . . . " LOL! (I know he's just making a rhetorical point, but it made me laugh.) )

BTW, I prefer the T-shirt with "Calvin and Hobbes" on the front - John Calvin and Thomas Hobbes. Probably should be headed "The Odd Couple".

[Salvation]

Wonderful article!

[NYer]

I'm sure you'll enjoy the humor in this post ;-D

[johnb2004]

Archbishop Burke is not telling Missouri Catholics "what to think and what to do," you fatuous dolt.

fatuous dolt! I love it.

[ahadams2]

One of the things one learns as an Anglican in Missouri is that the ecusa diocese is completely flakey. 'bishop' (and I use the term loosely)Smith wouldn't know the Lord if the Lord walked up and punched him in the nose.

[ahadams2]

fatuous dolt ecusa bishop Ping.

[PA Lurker]

Great post, as usual NYer. St. Louis was the hometown of Mary and I.

PA Lurker

[AnAmericanMother]

Now THAT is an interesting visual image . . .

< eeeeek! >

[beelzepug]

"...if the Lord walked up and punched him in the nose."

Which is entirely possible. Nothing like a good smiting now and then to get everyone's attention. :^)

[GirlShortstop]

Here's how it works, G. Wayne....

LOL!   Nice smack down, and a good analogy too.

Wayne's World... Wayne's World.
 
  Dork.