A key member of Pope Francis’ consultatory group of eight cardinals, Pell was hand picked by Francis to bring about reforms at the Vatican Bank. Rather than silencing Cardinal Burke it could be that Pope Francis is giving him his voice and therefore encouraging the “loyal opposition” in a healthy way.Ī further argument against the “purge of conservatives” theory is that other noted conservatives have not been sidelined. He was due for a transfer.” In answer to those who suggest that Burke’s transfer is a deliberate attempt on the part of Pope Francis to silence his enemies the shoulder shruggers would say, “Silence Burke? His new job as Patron of the Order of Malta gives him virtually no responsibilities, while providing him with a base in Rome and the time to travel, lecture, write and lead and make his point. Those who shrug their shoulders at gossip about feuds say, “It’s no big deal. Mark Drew observes in an excellent article here at the UK’s Catholic Herald, but set against this opinion is the fact that Cardinal Burke has just completed the usual five year term traditional for Prefects of the Apostolic Signatura. It may be part of a larger, intentional change of direction on the part of the pontiff, as Fr. This Vatican re-shuffle had been on the cards for months. Those who dispute the feud theory point out that, while Cardinal Burke is being transferred, this is not a reaction on the part of Pope Francis to Burke’s playing opposition at the synod. Does this mean there is a running feud between the two men? Is Cardinal Burke ready to lead a traditionalist schism? Is there a Francis-led plot to purge the church of conservatives? No, and here’s why: Is there a culture clash between the North American Cardinal from the suburbs and the South American from the slums? Probably. Are Pope Francis’s views on politics and economics at variance with Cardinal Burke’s? It’s possible. Does his style of teaching and celebration of the liturgy clash with the more conservative and “high church” style of Cardinal Burke? Definitely. Does Pope Francis favor the more liberal view on some matters? The answer must be “yes.” Do his views clash with those of Cardinal Burke? It would seem so. In my opinion everyone should take a deep breath and gather all the facts. The liberal commentators are delighted to see the back of Burke, while some conservatives are retreating into victim mode, believing that there is a Vatican conspiracy against them which reaches right up to the chair of St. Those who are excited to see a feud in the Vatican are both conservative and liberal. The piece de resistance would seem to be Cardinal Burke’s apparent demotion by Pope Francis. The fact that Cardinal Burke was in the forefront of conservative reaction at the recent synod on the family, that he is an outspoken critic of the liberal faction led by Cardinal Kasper, and that Pope Francis already removed him from the influential Congregation for Bishops all feeds the frenzy that there is a feud between the two men. A supporter of the old Latin Mass, and known for wearing the grand traditional trappings of a cardinal, Cardinal Burke would certainly appear to be the antithesis of the plain-dressing, plain-speaking pope from Argentina. There can be no argument with the fact that Cardinal Burke is a conservative. The secular press are having a heyday with this news, painting Cardinal Burke as the archconservative, gay-hating opposite of the genial and openhearted, nonjudgmental Pope Francis. American Cardinal Raymond Burke has been transferred from his powerful post as Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura to an honorary post of Patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. There is gossip galore in the little world of the universal church.
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