There are
two sides to everything, even the ultra-conservative opinions of Cardinal
Raymond Lee Burke. For background, see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/charles-j-reid-jr/cardinal-raymond-burke_b_6154122.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592
Some time
ago, the noted theologian, Rev. Richard McBrien, in one of his columns Essays in Theology, commented on the
impact of ultra conservatism in the Church on the continuum of ecclesiastical opinion.
He pointed out that the prevalence of heavily right-leaning thought creates a
situation where liberal Church thought becomes centrist. That’s a little like
saying that overly conservative opinion appearing to be a little “right of
Attila the Hun” tilts the balance so far right that the left seems center.
Such is
the thought that comes to mind with the latest comment of Cardinal Raymond Lee
Burke. His latest barrage about the leadership of Pope Francis leaving the
church “like a ship without a rudder” adds to that continuum shift and should
make happy Church people of a more liberal bent of mind.
Still
it’s sad that this church administrator is such a staunch
"hard-liner" that he cannot keep his comments intramural. The
argument of episcopal solidarity should dictate his silence. That was the term applied in the criticism against Bishop Tom Gumbleton when he publicly defended victims
of sex-abuse by priests, a pastorally-based defense leading to his being relieved of his pastorate of St.
Detroit in 2006.
Burke is
the former archbishop of St. Louis who was so concerned about diocesan assets
that:
In 2004 the
then-Archbishop of the Archdiocese, Raymond L. Burke, determined to put into
place a plan that would shield the assets of the Archdiocese from claims
asserted by victims of what has become known as the priest scandals. Thousands
of persons had filed lawsuits and continue to file lawsuits, claiming that they
were victims of sexual abuse by priests of various Roman Catholic dioceses
throughout the United States, including the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
[And the
battle over that policy led to the St Stanislaus Church battle as indicated in
the link cited.]
It’s regrettable
he couldn't be as pastorally concerned about protecting the victims whose lives
were destroyed by abusing priests—after the example of Gumbleton—as he was about protecting diocesan assets.
Now Burke’s
successor in St. Louis, Archbishop Carlson, is saddled with the problems Burke
left behind.
One wonders
if B16, when he promoted Burke, had in mind a "kick him upstairs"—ala
Cardinal Law—to Rome to head the Supreme Tribunal of the
Apostolic Signatura as a means to remove him from that St. Louis maelstrom.
Burke's
record on a number of issues can be read in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Leo_Burke
Some
will be thankful that the voice of Cardinal Burke will no longer be heard on
the Vatican Congregation for Bishops, which recommends who gets to be bishop
and lead a diocese. Perhaps now there might be a voice for the appointment
of “centrist” bishops ala O’Brien.
There
are those who wonder what Burke’s new position as Cardinal Protector of the Sovereign
Military Order of Malta entails. According
to the National
Catholic Reporter the position "has almost no
responsibilities." http://time.com/3574166/pope-francis-demotes-cardinal-raymond-burke/
In an
attempt to soften this commentary with a little nostalgia, perhaps we could
conclude this “Spat” with a comment reminiscent of a past recording. Back in 1950,
Arthur Godfrey (in a comedic British accent) had a hit with the recording of a novelty
song Yea-Boo [The “B” side of The Thing]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5OsfJ6Zt4g
So for
Burke’s extreme right opinion creating a move of progressive thought to an
apparent center. Yea!
For his
not observing “episcopal solidarity” and keeping his criticism of Pope Francis
to himself. Boo!
Seems Cardinal
Burke has forgotten the meaning of the motto on his coat of arms "Secundum
Cor Tuum" (II Cor 9: 7).
