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| Archbishop Raymond Burke |
This is a crock! Many Catholic politicians (especially in the United States) have been playing this little game for decades, and Archbishop Raymond Burke (Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura) has just put the "smack down" on every Western bishop who has played along with this, or turned a blind eye to it. So-called "Catholic" politicians who publicly support teachings contrary to the Church have in effect committed a public sin. Therefore, in order to avoid further scandal, their repentance must be public as well before they should be allowed to receive communion....
(LifeSiteNews.Com) - Turning to the issue of scandal within the Church, the archbishop said, “We find self-professed Catholics, for example, who sustain and support the right of a woman to procure the death of the infant in her womb, or the right of two persons of the same sex to the recognition which the State gives to a man and a woman who have entered into marriage. It is not possible to be a practicing Catholic and to conduct oneself publicly in this manner.”
To resounding applause Burke said, “When a person has publicly espoused and cooperated in gravely sinful acts, leading many into confusion and error about fundamental questions of respect for human life and the integrity of marriage and the family, his repentance of such actions must also be public.”
The Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura then voiced a concern that struck a deep chord with many of the Catholic pro-life activists present at the conference. “One of the ironies of the present situation is that the person who experiences scandal at the gravely sinful public actions of a fellow Catholic is accused of a lack of charity and of causing division within the unity of the Church,” he said. “One sees the hand of the Father of Lies at work in the disregard for the situation of scandal or in the ridicule and even censure of those who experience scandal.”
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8 comments; post here:
Mr Knight, kudos to Archbishop Burke, who may imminently be named cardinal; however, is the Vatican not sending mixed messages, since Archbishop Wuerl is also likely to get a red hat? Wuerl you will recall seems the polar opposite of Burke when it comes to standing up for church teaching and not allowing "catholic" politicians to receive communion. The holy father certainly knows the score on these men. Rewarding Wuerl seems almost to contradict doing the same to Burke. Pete Frey
Pete, The process of selecting cardinals has always been perplexing to me. I do not know what factors go into the pope's decision making process. Why Archbishop Roger Mahoney was made a cardinal back in 1991 shall forever remain an enigma to me. Pope Benedict XVI however, has surprised some by refusing to appoint an archbishop to cardinal when it was generally assumed he would do so. I believe this recently happened in England (or perhaps Ireland). Perhaps we're in for some surprises on these shores as well.
Besides that however, even if both Burke and Weurl get the red hat, there is a fundamental difference between them. Burke is the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, while Wuerl is not. In that sense, Burke does "outrank" Wuerl, if we were to use military terminology. (I admit that's not the best analogy, but it works for the purpose of this blog comment.) So it is Burke who instructs Wuerl under this pontificate, not the other way around, even if they are both elevated to cardinal.
good point, Sir Knight! Burke is in a more "commanding" position, and quite frankly rises to the level of "papabili" (but we shall see). The difficulty, as always, has been AUTHORITY. Do the bishops listen to Rome? ("aren't we autonomous in our dioceses?") Until some real teeth are put into Archbishop Burke's comments (such as demanding a few resignations for non-compliance, and a few public excommunications, say of Pelosi, Kerry, Kennedy---etc)I realistically dont expect much to change. My whole complaint with the post Vat II era has been the abject failure of papal leadership (aka "you will do this, my dear bishops")to stem abuses and outright apostasy. Pete Frey
Many US politicians are way overdue for excommunication... Yet the CDF does nothing, even seems intimidated by all these death-worshippers... well then, let the schism begin
Archbishop Burke has just been named cardinal! Based upon his experience and position, this man literally could become the next pope.
Archbishop Wuerl was also named cardinal. However, as I pointed out above, Burke is already in a commanding position while Wuerl will serve merely as an advisor.
Sir Knight, as a result of Cardinal Burke's recent statement, which you posted, it would appear that he has moved to the front ranks of papabili. Should he be elected, he could be another Pius X in his condemnation of dissent and heresy. Pete Frey
Could an American really be papable though?
There has never been an American Pope.
Before 1978 there had never been a Polish pope. I think an American COULD be pope, and of the cardinals available, I think Burke is probably the best choice for now. However, an American pope has some baggage connected to him. Liberal Secularists in the United States are just as aggressive against the leaders of the Church as the old Communists were back during the days of the Soviet Union. An American pope would be faced with a hostile homeland. While 50% of American Catholics would love him, the other 50% would not be so fond. Some of them would collaborate with the Mainstream News Media amd Democratic Party to slander and undermine him. Of course the sex-abuse scandal would be their #1 ammunition. Good orthodox and faithful Catholic Americans would find themselves constantly having to defend him and ward off the latest attack.
Because of these problems I would prefer to not see an American pope in my lifetime. I love cardinal elect Burke, but I would hate to watch his own country rip him apart while he serves in the chair of Peter. If he should become the next pope however, you can bet The Catholic Knight will defend him very vigorously.
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