Posted on 10/08/2014 9:12:02 AM PDT by NKP_Vet
Do you remember that toy called Sock ‘Em Robots in which two plastic robot boxers bashed each other while two kids were controlling their left hooks, blocks and body blows? It came to mind with last week’s clash between two Vatican heavyweights Cardinals Burke and Kasper.
Catholic New Service issued videos featuring the two cardinals expressing their points of view. Video Kasper could be summed up as, “couples in a second marriage show love and tenderness. We should do the same and forgive.” Video Burke was, “Jesus said if a man divorces his wife and marries another he commits adultery. Any questions?” Just as in the Sock ‘Em Robots game, the two pugilists were controlled by other unseen forces.
Kasper is the product of the European Catholic Church of the Second Vatican Council. He comes from Germany where the Catholic Church is an accepted and integrated part of the culture. As such the European Catholics, like members of the Church of England, are inclined to fit in with the establishment, harmonize with the prevailing culture and present the loving, caring, human face of European civilization. European Catholics of Kasper’s ilk feel that the best way forward is to continue to present to the prevailing culture (which they still think is mostly Catholic) a welcoming, forgiving and gentle demeanor. The Catholic Church is, for them, the forgiving father, always waiting at the gate to welcome home the prodigal son with a warm embrace, a forgiving heart and a happy meal.
Kasperian Catholicism is not only a European phenomenon. It is also the main religion of the American Northeast where, as in Europe, Catholicism is the de facto established religion. In this country, we might call Kasperian Catholicism “Kennedy Catholicism.” This religion regards the moral teachings of the Church as “guidelines.” The traditions of the Church are quaint customs to feel nostalgic about, and the dogmas of Catholicism are medieval notions that should be re-interpreted and understood in fresh ways for the modern world. The fact that both Kasperian and Kennedy Catholicism are found in areas where the Catholic faith is the established religion is no coincidence. It is only when a religion is established as it is in these sub cultures that it can afford the luxury of liberalism.
The Burkean boxer, on the other hand, is controlled by a different set of assumptions. Rather than being comfortable within the established Church, Burke seems more aware of the growing conflict between the world and the gospel. For Burkeans, Christ and culture are in conflict and the Church is there to challenge the prevailing mores, not condone them. The Burkean Catholic sees the core faith once delivered to the saints as being unchangeable, and adaptation to the prevailing culture only involves a change in emphasis, a tweaking of presentation or a re-packaging of the unchanging truths.
It fits that Burke is a product of the American midwest. As Kasper’s views are shaped by their environment within a culture where the Church is established, so Burke’s views are bound to have been shaped by the independent spirit of the American midwest, where Catholicism jockeys with secularism and thousands of forms of entrepreneurial and enthusiastic Protestantism. In the midst of religious pluralism, Burke’s penchant for extreme forms of liturgical ceremony and ecclesial costume seems to say, “Darn it. We’re Catholic and we mean to look Catholic! and what are you going to do about it?” The Burkean Catholic is horrified by the prevailing worldly establishment and offers the Catholic faith as a radical cure, not a pacifying placebo.
The Burke/Kasper clash is therefore about much more than the treatment of divorced and remarried Catholics. This is a clash between easy going establishment Catholicism and radical anti-establishment Catholicism. The clash is between two essentially conflicting understandings of the Catholic faith in the world today. One only needs to take a quick look at demographics in a book like John Allen’s The Future Church to realize that Kasperian Catholicism is at the end of its lifespan. European Catholicism of the Kasperian sort is dead and dying. In the present Vatican climate, Burke may seem like yesterday’s man, but his underlying assumptions are the ones that will take the Church into the future.
Before the conclave of 2013, I wrote a series of articles on the cardinals on the lists of papabile. While they come from every corner of the globe, what was impressive about them is that the majority had the foundational assumptions of Burke, not Kasper. Their formation and their present environment is that of being minorities and missionaries. They are used to conflict not compromise, and the idea of a European style established church is completely alien to them. This is why the present debate in the Church must be seen in a much larger context. The current papacy is likely to be relatively short and it is fair to look forward with eyes wide open.
I expect that the next man in white will be more Burkean than Kasperian in his underlying views. He may come from the Philippines, India, Canada, Nigeria or Peru, but he will almost certainly see Catholicism as a powerful force for creative conflict with the world. He will see the Catholic religion as the power for the followers of Jesus Christ not to be conformed to the world but transformed.
“An obviously pained Cardinal Burke expresses shock at direction of Synod”
“I can add this: I have been praying the Chaplet of the Holy Face as requested by Cardinal Burke, and I think his choice of prayer incredibly significant. The main prayer repeated throughout the Chaplet is:
“Arise, O Lord, and let Thy enemies be scattered, and let them that hate Thee fly before Thy Face!””
http://veneremurcernui.wordpress.com/2014/10/07/synod-considers-dropping-language-condemning-sin/
I am a Burkean, too; I would note, however, that the european model also exists in areas of America outside the northeast. For example, Cardinal Burke went to Rome from the Vatican form St. Louis, Missouri, where I went to college, and where my wife is from. It also has an underlying Catholic culture, and has many Kasperians.
Gives me new perspective when the haters come to club me over the head with Teddy Kennedy.
While we are on the subject how many think any of those cultural Catholic politicians really even go to Mass unless there are cameras present and it's an election year? They regularly attend St. Mattress.
Excellent analysis, thanks for posting.
Pro-aborts/queer “marriage” libtards that follow heretics like Kaspar have renigged on their right to be called a Catholic. That’s fact. So it’s time the media quit referring to them as Catholic and it’s time for them to join some protestant liberal faith that will put up with your garbage.
Pro-aborts/queer “marriage” libtards that follow heretics like Kaspar have renigged on their right to be called a Catholic. That’s fact. So it’s time the media quit referring to them as Catholic and it’s time for them to join some protestant liberal faith that will put up with your garbage.
Didn’t mean to repeat. Sorry.
No worries!
There are myriad ways to say this: "give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile." Cardinal Burke understands the battle we are in, and the Church is our last bastion.
One of the worst ideas to come out of Vatican II is that Confirmation would no longer be seen to make one "a soldier of Christ."
Well, I'm still marching for Christ the Lord! Let's please bring back the St. Michael Defender prayer at the end of all Masses.
We have crazy, disobedient, convert priests too. I feel for you folks but am a bit mystified as to why any of you listen to them....
For later.
self ping for a valuable read
Depends also too what part of the country you live in. Agree with your presentation, of your area as well as northeastern USA.
In the American south, because of a much more conservative Bible-based Christian faith Churches there, more likely, the Catholics there are going to be more Burkean.
I sense the next Pope will be of the Burke style nature, because I read somewhere that Pope Francis said he may do another 2 or 3 years as Pope.
....If there are such churches left.
“The Burke/Kasper clash is therefore about much more than the treatment of divorced and remarried Catholics. This is a clash between easy going establishment Catholicism and radical anti-establishment Catholicism. The clash is between two essentially conflicting understandings of the Catholic faith in the world today. One only needs to take a quick look at demographics in a book like John Allen’s The Future Church to realize that Kasperian Catholicism is at the end of its lifespan. European Catholicism of the Kasperian sort is dead and dying. In the present Vatican climate, Burke may seem like yesterday’s man, but his underlying assumptions are the ones that will take the Church into the future.
Before the conclave of 2013, I wrote a series of articles on the cardinals on the lists of papabile. While they come from every corner of the globe, what was impressive about them is that the majority had the foundational assumptions of Burke, not Kasper. Their formation and their present environment is that of being minorities and missionaries. They are used to conflict not compromise, and the idea of a European style established church is completely alien to them. This is why the present debate in the Church must be seen in a much larger context. The current papacy is likely to be relatively short and it is fair to look forward with eyes wide open.”
Also look for the Burkeans to become the “new missionaries” to bring back the faith to those areas where it is either dead or dying.
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