"De-Ratzingerization" Continues as Pope Francis Removes Conservative Cardinal Burke

[cbayer]

http://religiondispatches.org/de-ratzingerization-continues-as-pope-francis-removes-conservative-cardinal-burke/

BY PATRICIA MILLER NOVEMBER 11, 2014

Pope Francis finally dropped the long-expected axe on Cardinal Raymond Burke, one of the curia’s cultural warriors-in-chief, on Saturday. Burke was removed from the powerful position of head of the Apostolic Signature, the Vatican’s Supreme Court, and relegated to the largely ceremonial role of patron of the Sovereign Order of Malta, a Vatican charity, effectively ending his career.

It’s the second time Francis has demoted Burke from a key role at the Vatican; last year he removed him from the Congregation for Bishops, which makes recommendations about which priests should begin their climb up the ladder of the Vatican hierarchy by becoming bishops.

While the move had been expected for some time, it was still significant in that Burke has emerged as the most outspoken critic of Francis’ agenda. During the recent family synod he was openly critical of Francis surrogate Cardinal Walter Kasper’s reform proposals for communion for the remarried and afterward suggested that the church under Francis was like a “ship without a rudder.”

The conservative Catholic blog Rorate Caeli called Burke’s pending removal some ten years before the mandatory retirement age of 75 unprecedented and “the greatest humiliation of a Curial Cardinal in living memory … a complete degradation and a clear punishment.”

more at link

[trotsky]

1. These are very welcome steps.

But worth noting is that it fits with the PR efforts. Anti-progressive policies aren't changing. Bigoted teachings aren't changing. He's targeting the men who are upfront about those things, and replacing them with men who still adhere to them but put on a friendly face while doing it.

[skepticscott]

2. Exactly...Blank Frank isn't purging conservatives (as if)

He's purging people who make the wrong kind of public splash.

[MADem]

3. Who is surprised, really? The HUBRIS of that guy was something else!

Here he is, farting through silk, only has to work one day a week, and he's dissing the boss?

Did he really think it would end any other way? This is a Pope who tosses those Featherbed Cardinals out of their fancy Hot-Tub/Swimming Pool/Movie Theater mansions. He doesn't play.

He's telling these guys that if they don't want to walk the walk, they need to siddown and shaddup.

Good for him.

[cbayer]

4. I hope to see more of this.

This guy was so out of line. He practically dared Francis to fire him.

[MADem]

5. Any one who comes at Frank now is, in essence, committing seppuku.

The "Go clean toilets as a Knight of Malta" decree effectively told that guy where to go. No clout, yer OUT!!!

[cbayer]

6. I think the fact that some are speaking so loudly says a lot

about how threatening he is to the status quo.

Will be interesting to see what happens next.

[MADem]

7. He's smart to live in the "the dorm," with people who have his back, and to cook his own food.

The isolation of St. Pete's, surrounded by fawning smilers, is bad for anyone. I wish the guy all the best.

[cbayer]

8. I can't even imagine what it must be like.

I wouldn't want to be him or the US POTUS, ever.

I was in Vatican city this year and it is full out crazy with tourists. The pope memorabilia sold from various carts is also overwhelming and some of it is downright hilarious.

Anyway, there is a lot of positive enthusiasm for him in Italy, and the country can use all the good news it can get.

[MADem]

9. Many years ago--before Nahn Wun Wun and Terra Terra Terra changed ever-thang...

I used to go to the Vatican gift shop which was on the level with all those saints looking down on the square, and laugh like hell at the dreck they sold there. The giant golden "doll house" of the Vatican with the lighted image of the Pope in the middle of the main door was a hoot. The light came on when you opened the doors, and "Arrividerci Roma" played. I wonder if anyone bought the thing? It was enormous.

Anyway, there was a terrace right off that shop, and it was possible to hop up on the wall of the terrace, clamber out onto the roof, and sit in the gutter of the Vatican right by those saint statues. I used to bring my lunch, have a meal, lay down in the rain gutter and have a nap. Did it dozens of times--never got hassled, either. I wouldn't even try it today, I'd probably be arrested and cause an international incident. I regret not bringing a camera, the views of the square from that vantage point were really quite grand.

[cbayer]

10. What a great scenario.

I can picture you, because I have an image of you in my head, sitting up on that roof watching the world go by.

I don't think you could ever get away with it now. They have seriously increased the level of security, particularly in Roma.

Did you ever get out to the Rieti area of Sabina while you were there? That is where I spent the summer.

It is a place undiscovered and free of tourists.

It is the area where St. Francis spent much of his time after they ran him out of Assisi. His sanctuarios are moving in a way that is hard to describe. If there is a gift shop at all, it will be very small and very quiet.

[MADem]

11. That's in central Italy, yes? I've heard good things!

I pretty much stuck to the beaten paths--and the coast! I've wanted to go back for many years but the timing was never good. Maybe in the next decade...!

[cbayer]

12. It's in Lazio. Rieti is about 1 hour ne of Roma.

It is not easy to get to, but worth the effort.

Italy is quite inexpensive, because the economy is in the toilet.

But the food and wine and people and culture and history and scenery all remain spectacular.

I hope you get back sooner than later.