The tables have turned under Pope Francis. And a new type of Catholic has formed: the conservative dissenter. In the past, conservatives prided themselves on loyalty to the pope and being in lockstep with all papal teachings, while progressives called for limits to papal power. The devotees of tradition used to argue that liberals who Read more
Two prominent and sometimes controversial cardinals, both seen as conservatives, recently have drawn stinging criticism in one case and a stirring defense in another, and both have come from extremely high-ranking sources. American Cardinal Raymond Burke was recently dismissed as a “disappointed man” upset over the loss of his power by fellow Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Read more
Conservative Cardinals have gone public with a letter they wrote to the Pope in September, because he hasn’t answered it. The letter asked him to clarify Church teaching about love and the family. The Cardinals are Raymond Burke, Carlo Caffarra, Walter Brandmüller and Joachim Meisner. The “dubia” (matters they say need specific yes/no answers from Read more
Pope Francis has appointed Cardinal Raymond Burke to a Roman congregation, only days after abuse activists called for the US prelate to be investigated. The Pontiff appointed Cardinal Burke and Cardinal Carlo Caffarra of Bologna as members of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The two prelates retain their respective positions as Archbishop of Read more
American Cardinal Raymond Burke has warned about watering down the language around unions outside marriage. Addressing students at the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio earlier this month, Cardinal Burke discussed attacks on family life and the Church’s response. He said students must be wary of abandoning natural law and watering down faith and tradition Read more
Every priest and parish in Britain and Ireland is to receive a DVD defending Catholic teaching on marriage, the family and sexuality. The DVD comes from the British Confraternity of Catholic Clergy in collaboration with St Anthony Communications, which specialises in catechetical video presentations. It has been launched as the Church prepares for the synod Read more
American Cardinal Raymond Burke has said Cardinal Walter Kasper wants to change the Church’s magisterial teaching. In an interview with German daily Die Welt, Cardinal Burke said “we are all bound by the Magisterium”. “But some synod fathers, above all Cardinal Kasper, want to change it.” Cardinal Kasper’s “merciful” solution for remarried divorcees who wish Read more
An American cardinal has placed faithful gay couples, unmarried couples and civilly remarried Catholics in the same category as murderers who are kind. In a lengthy interview on Lifesitenews, Cardinal Raymond Burke criticised what he called confusion in the Church. Cardinal Burke was asked about other prelates who had pointed out good qualities in relationships Read more
An American cardinal has publicly criticised Pope Francis in a documentary to be screened on Irish television next week. On “Pope Francis – The Sinner”, Cardinal Raymond Burke says that since Pope Francis’s election two years ago, “there really just is growing confusion about what the Church teaches”. When Cardinal Burke’s term as prefect of Read more
Priests in England and Wales are being urged to sign a letter calling on the family synod to resist any move to allow Communion for the civilly remarried. The letter also calls on the synod to proclaim the Church’s “unchanging” moral teaching. The initiative comes from a group of dozen priests, dubbed by The Tablet Read more