In a very controversial move among pro-life Catholics, Pope Francis has reportedly punished Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke and allegedly stripped the cardinal of his salary and housing.
According to a Tuesday Associated Press (AP) report, “Pope Francis has decided to punish one of his highest-ranking critics, Cardinal Raymond Burke, by revoking his right to a subsidized Vatican apartment and salary.”
The AP called the move “the second such radical action against a conservative American prelate this month.”
Just two weeks ago, Francis removed Bishop Joseph Strickland as the head of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas. Strickland is one of the most outspoken pro-life bishops and he indicated he would deny radical abortion advocate Nancy Pelosi communion if she ever came to his diocese.
But was Cardinal Burke punished for the same reason?
In 2020, Cardinal Burke said Joe Biden should not receive Holy Communion because of his long record of supporting abortion on demand.
Burke discussed Biden’s claims of faith in an August 2020 interview with Catholic Action for Faith and Family founder Thomas McKenna. While Biden claims to be a devout Catholic, he opposes Catholic Church teachings about the sanctity of human life. He supports abortions without restrictions and wants to force taxpayers to pay for them.
“Certainly, he is not a Catholic in good standing, and he should not approach to receive Holy Communion,” Burke said in the interview.
The cardinal emphasized that his statements about Biden are not political, rather he is concerned about the politician’s soul.
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“I don’t intend to get involved in the recommending any candidate for office, but simply to state that a Catholic may not support abortion in any shape or form, because it is one of the most grievous sins against human life, and has always been considered to be intrinsically evil,” Burke said. “And therefore to support the act is a mortal sin.”
Burke said Biden also gives the false impression that it is ok to be Catholic and support the killing of unborn babies in abortions.
“I don’t know why Catholics who are involved in politics can’t get this straight in their heads,” he added.
Catholic leaders have been condemning Biden’s pro-abortion stance for years. In 2019, a South Carolina priest denied communion to Biden because he supports abortion in violation of church teachings.
“Sadly, … I had to refuse Holy Communion to former Vice President Joe Biden,” said the Rev. Robert E. Morey of St. Anthony Catholic Church. “Holy Communion signifies we are one with God, each other and the Church. Our actions should reflect that. Any public figure who advocates for abortion places himself or herself outside of Church teaching.”
But Burke is the highest ranking Catholic leader to take on Bdien and his radical abortion agenda so directly. And now there is speculation he may be paying the price.
According to The Pillar editor-in-chief JD Flynn:
The Pillar has confirmed that there was a Vatican meeting last week, at which Pope Francis discussed a punitive measure, pertaining to Cardinal Burke’s stipend and apartment, mentioning specifically that Cardinal Burke has been a source of “disunity” in the Church.
It was not clear to our sources-close-to-the-situation whether the measure would include both apartment and stipend — but since the stipend goes to cardinals living in Rome, if Burke loses the apartment and leaves Rome, he also loses the stipend.
“The Pillar has also confirmed that Burke has not been informed directly of the decision,” Flynn noted. “Burke, I suspect, will take it rather quietly.”
From the Daily Compass’ Monday report:
“Cardinal Burke is my enemy, so I am taking away his flat and salary”. This is what Pope Francis supposedly said at the meeting with the Heads of Dicasteries of the Roman Curia last 20 November, and which a Vatican source revealed to the Daily Compass. The indiscretion was later confirmed by other sources.
Whatever the reason for the Pope’s decision, it is not going over well with pro-life Catholics, especially on the heels of sacking Bishop Strickland. The move makes it appear Pope Francis is taking the Catholic Church in a more liberal direction at a time when there are concerns about his health and the potential in the coming years of a new pope.
