Cardinal Cry-babies

 

The media is very excited about the eviction of Cardinal Raymond Burke. There’s an implication that it's a political squabble, liberal vs. conservative, or perhaps a personal act of vengeance on account of Burke’s criticisms of the pope. 

I find it interesting to compare this to a similar case in which John Paul II took action against a liberal priest, Matthew Fox. Fox ran afoul of Catholic doctrine by having the audacity to read the Garden of Eden story, and notice it isn’t really about Original Sin. For this offense, Fox was first silenced, and then finally defrocked, the ultimate punishment for a priest. The mainstream media barely noticed this event. No one found it a political crisis between liberal and conservative, and it certainly wasn’t made out to be a personal squabble.

But for some reason Cardinal Burke is made out to be a devoted traditionalist, staying true to his beliefs. I find this strange. Is it not the tradition to follow church leadership? Is not obedience one of the vows that priests take? Burke has even threatened that most anathema of responses: schism. If the church leadership continues to take the church in a direction Burke does not like, he intimates he may lead a break away from the church. This is no traditionalism, this is rebellion. Burke's positions--endorsing Trump and Covid conspiracy theories--do seem more driven by the political right wing than by theological or doctrinal conservatism. But the censure of a priest who advocates schism is in line with ancient doctrine.

Francis was made pope by the College of Cardinals, following the 2,000 year old traditions of the church, which makes him the supreme leader and authority on Catholic doctrine. There is room in the church for people to disagree, and work to lead the church in a different direction. Catholic liberals have been doing that for decades. But now a liberal is guiding doctrine, the shoe is on the other foot, and conservatives are crying foul. I’m sorry. You can work to lead the church in a different direction. But when you claim the pope is illegitimate, his leadership mistaken, when you threaten schism, you’re out of line. You’re rebelling. The traditional response is to censor rebels. Cry me a river.