Posted on 10/31/2014 2:15:27 PM PDT by ebb tide
VATICAN CITY (RNS) American Cardinal Raymond Burke, the feisty former archbishop of St. Louis who has emerged as the face of the opposition to Pope Francis’ reformist agenda, likened the Roman Catholic Church to “a ship without a rudder” in a fresh attack on the pope’s leadership.
In an interview with the Spanish Catholic weekly Vida Nueva, published Thursday (Oct. 30), Burke insisted he was not speaking out against the pope personally but raising concern about his leadership.
“Many have expressed their concerns to me. At this very critical moment, there is a strong sense that the church is like a ship without a rudder,” Burke said.
“Now, it is more important than ever to examine our faith, have a healthy spiritual leader and give powerful witness to the faith.”
Burke is the current head of the Vatican’s highest court known as the Apostolic Signatura, but he said recently he is about to be demoted. There is speculation he will be made patron of the Order of Malta, a largely ceremonial post.
“I have all the respect for the Petrine ministry and I do not want to seem like I am speaking out against the pope,” he said in the interview. “I would like to be a master of the faith, with all my weaknesses, telling a truth that many currently perceive.”
“They are feeling a bit seasick because they feel the church’s ship has lost its way,” he added.
Burke has expressed an uncompromising stance on keeping the ban on Communion for Catholics who divorce and remarry without an annulment, and is one of five conservative cardinals who aired their views in a new book, “Remaining in the Truth of Christ,” released on the eve of the bishops’ blockbuster synod in early October.
When the synod signaled a more welcoming tone to gay and lesbian Catholics, Burke publicly accused the global gathering of bias and was among those who pushed for a less conciliatory approach in the final report.
Burke had previously said that Catholic families should not expose children to the “evil” of homosexuality by inviting a gay son home for Christmas with his partner.
In his latest interview, Burke said the church was “the pillar of marriage” and challenged the pope’s revolutionary “Who am I to judge?” remark on gay people.
“The acts must be judged; I do not think that the pope thinks differently. They are sinful and unnatural. The pope never said we can find positive elements in them. It is impossible to find positive elements in an evil act.”
Cardinal Burke Ping
This will not end well for them.
I’m left to wonder if this split in the Catholic Church will end up looking like what happened with various Protestant denominations over the past twnety years? Will individual congregations leave the RCC? Will a new Catholic denomination arise? Or will it jjst be a flood of individuals who will either seek new church homes or, disillusioned, who will simply stay at home on Sunday mornings?
In any case, what this pope is doing to his church is akin to what Obama is doing to our country.
Frances and Obola are peas in a pod.
How interesting. Perhaps if they listened to Jesus about the Holy Spirit having been sent instead of some man made position Burke wouldn’t have to feel that way.
Only because of a few good reasons like Cardinal Burke do I not give up entirely on the current Church hierarchy.
When Pope Frances realizes the number of Catholics is dropping and the money is also dropping, he will change his mind or someone in Rome will change his mind.
What is that quote? Something about the heads of Bishops paving the road to Hell? I love Cardinal Burke. May the Lord protect him. I too suspect there was some sort of a coup at the last election. Glad Pope Benedict is still alive and meeting with this Pope. He seems to be floundering. (Isn’t that a nice way to say it?)
I agree wholeheartedly with you on all points.
So what REALLY happened to Benedict?
I wonder if Holy Father Benedict XVI was forced out somehow? I have read that Bergolio was almost elected instead of Cardinal Ratzinger. I wouldn’t put it past the enemies within the Church to have done this.
Heyyy ... we got a NATION like that !
So you know of a church that is not composed of and led by frail human beings?
I certainly don’t know of any. The same goes for the many backseat Popes we have around here also.
Cardinal Burke is a man of great wisdom, intellect, and holiness. His opinion matters. However, never expect him to openly speak against the Pope.
What’s the difference? If the Church is an ark, whose hand is on the tiller?
Francis is working hard on gaining new followers. No questions are asked, and no commitments are required. Anything goes.
Doesn't matter to the Pope, does it? Otherwise, why has Papa Tango removed Burke from two major positions?
Are you sure about that?
“The pope, more than anyone else as the pastor of the universal church, is bound to serve the truth,” Burke said. “The pope is not free to change the church’s teachings with regard to the immorality of homosexual acts or the insolubility of marriage or any other doctrine of the faith.”
http://rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/2014/10/burke-confirms-yes-pope-has-demoted-me.html
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