Pope Francis is reportedly demoting a highly conservative cardinal, Raymon Burke, from being head of the Apostolic Signatura known as the Vatican Supreme Court to a very minor role as head of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Seasoned Vatican critic, Sandro Magister, described Pope's decision as a revolution and a "metaphorical guillotine."
Cardinal Burke was appointed by late Pope John Paul II who had also decided to assign him to be the Archbishop of St. Louis and a position in the Roman Curia as head to the department that strictly decides on the legal application of the Canon Law. While serving the Roman Curia, Burke had appointed equally conservative bishops. Pope Francis had since removed Burke from this latter appointment - a humiliation, described Magister.
Magister described Burke as an expert of the Canon Law and a strict follower at that, even "to the most uncomfortable consequences." Uncomfortable consequences to the point when he denied communion to U.S. politicians who are pro-abortion, including Sean Patrick O'Malley of Boston and Donald Wuerl of Washington. Both politicians are "valued" by Pope Francis, Magister points out.
Burke, also, is very vocal of his objection against ideas of Cardinal Walter Kasper, which include giving communion to the divorced and remarried. Magister said that Kasper is "well known to be in the good graces of Pope Francis."
Other extremely conservative moves by Burke include presiding the ordination of priests who shall exclusively hold traditional masses in Latin. He also dresses up with capes and birettas reminiscent of the 1950's era.
But what could trigger controversy to Pope's demotion of Burke is how in several instances, the latter had contradicted some of Pope's pronouncement. Pope Francis at one point implied that abortion is not a significant issue anymore and that Church's teaching on divorced, gay marriage and remarried Catholics may change and may be more open. Burke refuted this and upheld that changing the Church's teaching is impossible.
Burke had in fact written a book entitled "Remaining in the Truth of Christ: Marriage and Communion in the Catholic Church." Curiously, it was released ahead of the Synod of Bishops scheduled in October. The book's version in English will also be release in October.
Other extremely conservative moves by Burke include presiding the ordination of priests who shall exclusively hold traditional masses in Latin. He also dresses up with capes and birettas reminiscent of the 1950's era.
But what could trigger controversy to Pope's demotion of Burke is how in several instances, the latter had contradicted some of Pope's pronouncement. Pope Francis at one point implied that abortion is not a significant issue anymore and that Church's teaching on divorced, gay marriage and remarried Catholics may change and may be more open. Burke refuted this and upheld that changing the Church's teaching is impossible.
Burke had in fact written a book entitled "Remaining in the Truth of Christ: Marriage and Communion in the Catholic Church." Curiously, it was released ahead of the Synod of Bishops scheduled in October. The book's version in English will also be release in October.
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