Grump, such talk is foolishness.
Some of Cardinal Burke's supporters are heaping on the victim rhetoric, but Burke himself has never characterized himself as either a victim or an opponent of Pope Francis.
Burke was head of the Apostolic Signatura. Nobody in that post since 1994 has served more than 6 years. He served 6 years. Everybody before him as reassigned as expected. And Burke was reassigned.
Burke himself has not complained --- not a word --- but again, his supporters, having wrapped him in the garb of gulag victim and martyr, are grousing that he was reassigned to a largely ceremonial post, as Patron of the Knights of Malta.
It may in fact be perfect for him. He spent six years as chief justice at the Signatura, writing scholarly judgments on Canon Law with 135 footnotes apiece, which bishops didn't feel the least obliged to honor or obey. Virtually the entire U.S. hierarchy is in open violation of his ruling on Canon 915 --- God only knows how deep in disobedience they are on his other rulings. There's not much point in wasting his prime years and energies toiling over canonical judgments that prelates will use as doorstops.
On the other hand, as Cardinal-Patron of the Knights of Malta, he is master of his daily agenda: his time is his own. He's unfettered from his desk like a galley-slave whose chains have been struck off. The Knights are influential movers 'n' shakers AND DONORS, and they can jet Burke all over the world to celebrate TLM Masses in Austria, to speak at a symposium in Poland, to keynote a conferences in Africa, to publish at Navarre, to rally the faithful in Peoria, to go wherever the Spirit listeth, and to emerge at peripheries as the voice of the Fear of the Lord.
Yes, prophets are at the peripheries (to use Pope Francis' favorite word) and not at Roman dicastery desks. Wittingly or unwittingly, Francis has set up Burke in the catbird's seat.
I personally think it might be "wittingly," --- but that depends on how long of a "long game" this pope is playing--- whether he's playing checkers or chess. The Holy Spirit unquestionably owns the long game.
May I assume you did not sign the petition thanking Cardinal Burke for his service?
I don’t hear the Franciscans of the Immaculate characterizing themselves as opponents of Francis, either. But that doesn’t mean Francis’ brutal oppression of traditional Catholics isn’t obvious to all.
And how many of those above were removed from said post before they reached the age of 67? Is that in your little book of factoids (e.g. Mark Shea, perhaps)? How many were exiled to purely ceremonial posts?
In other words, Francis' intention is to encourage Burke's particular brand of evangelization?
A side by side comparison between the truths explained in the book “Remaining in the Truth of Christ: Marriage and Communion in the Catholic Church” and Kasper's destructive, "serene theology" indicates quite the opposite. There is an indisputable conflict between Burke's fidelity to Christ and Kasper's attack upon Truth. Since Burke opposes a replacement of the current judicial process of the marriage tribunals with a rapid administrative process which increases the risk of error, while Kasper and the Pope are not opposed to destroying the integrity of the process in the name of "mercy", there is an unresolvable conflict. Burke's stance is in line with that of St. JPII, who said "...these people also have the right not to be deceived by a sentence of nullity which is in contrast to the existence of a true marriage. Such an unjust declaration of nullity would find no legitimate support in appealing to love or mercy, for love and mercy cannot put aside the demands of truth."
Burke's faithfulness to the perennial teachings of the Church earned him this slap-down from Francis. His demotion to the "periphery" is intended to lessen his influence by humiliating and marginalizing him. Such treatment of a faithful servant is shameful.