Pope Francis: Demotion of Burke not ‘Punishment’

Crux ^ | 12/7/14

[marshmallow]

Pope Francis has denied that removing American Cardinal Raymond Burke as head of the Vatican’s highest court was a “punishment” for his outspokenly conservative views at a recent summit of bishops, saying instead he wanted a “smart American” to serve as patron of the Order of Malta.

“It is not true that I removed him because of how he had behaved in the synod,” Francis said.

The pontiff said that the move was part of a broader restructuring of the Vatican bureaucracy that had been decided well before the October 5-19 synod of bishops on the family. The reason he waited until after the synod to make it official, he said, was so that Burke could still participate in the meeting as the head of a Vatican department.

The comments came in an interview with the Argentinian daily La Nacion, and was conducted by veteran Rome writer Elisabetta Piqué. In the same interview, the Argentine-born pope also talked about the continued need to find pastoral solutions to challenges facing divorced and remarried Catholics and gay Catholics; his ongoing curial reforms; and challenges facing the Church in Latin America.

The 66-year-old Burke, formerly the bishop of Lacrosse, Wisconsin, and archbishop of St. Louis, has become a symbol for many Americans of a perceived hostility from Pope Francis to more tradition-minded Catholic viewpoints.

[MasterGunner01]

Of course not. Argentine Pope “social justice” Francis would never be so vindictive as to demote American Archbishop Burke. Francis, being the “diversity Pope”, would like to burn him at the stake -- if he could.

[Brian Kopp DPM]

I don’t listen so much to what he says, I watch what he does. And what he does speaks much louder than what he says.

[xone]

how he had behaved in the synod

The key phrase, 'behaved'???

[gusopol3]

I’m a total outsider and it’s none of my business, but it sounds like taunting to me. “He likes to travel and he’d be busy there.”

[E. Pluribus Unum]

And I don’t spell Frances’ name with an “e” because I think he’s gay or anything.

[LucianOfSamasota]

God save the Catholic Church!

[Secret Agent Man]

Sure. /s

[eater-of-toast]

No surprise that a Jesuit pope uses artful indirection and conceals stern discipline, firm control, and a steely focus on what he wants to accomplish, beneath an outward appearance of leniency, liberality, and jovial absentmindedness. http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1350536?eng=y

[circlecity]

Wow, it was one thing when I questioned this man’s theology - now one has to question his honesty.

[DarkSavant]

No surprise that a Jesuit pope uses artful indirection and conceals stern discipline, firm control, and a steely focus on what he wants to accomplish, beneath an outward appearance of leniency, liberality, and jovial absentmindedness. http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1350536?eng=y

Francis is a political animal before a spiritual father, and it shows.

[NKP_Vet]

Someone should ask him point blank why he detests Catholic bishops that try to live according to the doctrine of the Catholic Church and surrounds himself with liberal bishops that want want to give communion to pro-aborts and allow homosexual unions. Then follow up the question with specific examples, using his own words to make the point. He will go down in history as the worst pope in the last 500 years.

[MDLION]

How do you know he’s being dishonest?

Cardinal Burke served as the Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura for about 5 and a half years. His predecessor Agostino Vallini held the position for about four years. Vallini’s predecessor Mario Francesco Pompedda held the job for about four and a half years. Pompedda’s predecessor Zeno Grochoiewski held the title for a little more than a year.

Of Cardinal Burke’s 18 predecessors going back to 1908, 10 served longer than him and he served longer than 8. In those predecessors, one sees some 6, 8, and 10 year reigns. But one also sees a lot of 1,2, 4 and 5 year reigns. So what’s the average in Burke’s former position?

About 5 years.

[piusv]

Regarding Burke’s predecessors, where did they go afterwards?

[Mrs. Don-o]

"Regarding Burke’s predecessors, where did they go afterwards?"

They went wherever the Pope told them to go: without impugning the Pope's motivation or trashing him in the press, loyally, uncomplainingly, and with filial obedience. Just like Burke.

You serve Burke badly by ignoring his honorable example.

[piusv]

I thought you asked me to not post to you. And I obliged. Wouldn’t that work both ways then?

Besides, you didn’t really answer my question. You only used it as an opportunity to chastise me....again.

[eater-of-toast]

In fairness to Pope Frank, Catholic teachings on social justice ensure that any pope is going to take liberal positions on economic and labor issues. Even Benedict did, on the less frequent occasions he addressed such matters. On the other hand, it makes sense to see Frank as a liberalizing pope, since he beats the social justice drum with gusto, and seeks to deemphasize Catholic teachings on abortion and homosexuality that social conservatives prefer to focus on (although, again, to be fair, he has affirmed those teachings, as would any pope).