St. Louis Archbishop Warns of Upcoming “Persecution” over Abortion and Homosexuality

LifeSite ^ | February 10, 2005

[NYer]

ST. LOUIS, February 9, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) - In an interview with LifeSiteNews.com, St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke said that as Catholics continue to speak out on life and family issues they will face persecution. “There is going to be a persecution with regard to this, that’s clear,” said the Archbishop.

The media has painted the St. Louis church leader as a mean-spirited bully, yet in person he is soft-spoken and kind with a keen sense of the truth and an urgency to convey it for the salvation of souls. Rather than using high-sounding platitudes which coast over the heads of many, Archbishop Burke speaks plainly the teaching of the Church on matters of central importance, without fear of being labeled politically incorrect.

During the debate in the US about refusing communion to Catholic politicians who support abortion, Burke issued a pastoral letter explaining that, although the refusal by a pastor or bishop to distribute holy Communion to anyone is a “source of great sorrow . . . What would be profoundly more sorrowful would be the failure of a bishop to call a soul to conversion, the failure to protect the flock from scandal and the failure to safeguard the worthy reception of Communion.”

With regard to voting by Catholics, the archbishop stated clearly in a meeting held by the diocesan pro-life office, "When we go to vote, we must take into consideration all of the stands politicians make. But procured abortion, that has to be our first question."

Archbishop Burke has been equally clear and courageous on the hot topic of same-sex ‘marriage’. Rather than avoiding the reason behind the gay ‘marriage’ push – the societal acceptance of homosexuality – Burke addressed it head-on, warning that the tendency to avoid the issue is dangerous.

In his diocesan paper Burke wrote, "There is a tendency to accept same-sex relationships because we do not want to deal with the embarrassment and hurt of recognizing same-sex attraction as disordered,” he said. “The fact that our American culture more and more fails to make any distinction between same-sex attraction and heterosexual attraction does not justify our failure to make the distinction, respecting God's gift of human life in its integrity and helping others to attain the perfection to which we are called as true children of God."

After concelebrating the massive vigil Mass preceding the US March for Life a few weeks ago, Archbishop Burke told LifeSiteNews.com that his motivation to continue to speak out on life and family comes from “Christ Himself” and “the natural moral law” which the archbishop said “is not the question of a belief of a particular religion, but is part of the patrimony of the whole human race.”

The archbishop acknowledged that speaking the truth was intimidating. “It’s intimidating because we live, as our Holy Father says, in a society of a culture of death where people want to convince us that everything should be convenient and comfortable and they don’t like to hear a voice which says ‘this isn’t right’”, he said.

But with being outspoken on the truth will come persecution, a fact the archbishop is willing not only to acknowledge but to accept. “Bishops will be persecuted,” he said, and “also priests and lay people.”

Even now those proclaiming the truth are called, homophobic and hateful. Yet the archbishop explains, “It’s what it means to be a sign of contradiction. We just have to accept that and we have to remain tranquil in proclaiming the truth with charity, but insisting on the truth.”

“If we look to the example of Our Lord, we have to take up the cross for the defence of life,” he said.

See former LifeSiteNews.com coverage on the archbishop:
Archbishop Burke Instructs Catholic Voters: "It would be wrong to give institutional recognition to same-sex relationships"
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/jul/04071609.html
US Archbishop Says Abortion Has to be the "first question" for Catholic Voters
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/jun/04062504.html
St. Louis Archbishop Burke Speaks Out About Pro-Abortion Catholic Politicians and Communion
http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2004/jun/04062404.html

[NYer]

Most Reverend Raymond Leo Burke
Archbishop of St. Louis

The Most Reverend Raymond Leo Burke was born in Richland Center, Wisconsin, on June 30, 1948, the youngest of the six children of Thomas F. and Marie B. Burke. His elementary education was undertaken at St. Mary School in Richland Center (1954-1959) and at St. Joseph School in Stratford, Wisconsin (1959-1962).

He attended high school at Holy Cross Seminary in La Crosse, Wisconsin, from 1962 to 1966, and also completed college courses there (1966 -1968) before attending the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he studied as a Basselin Scholar (1968 -1971). He undertook his studies for ordination at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (1971-1975) and was ordained to the priesthood by Pope Paul VI on June 29, 1975, at the Basilica of St. Peter.

Father Burke's first assignment was as associate rector of the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman in La Crosse. In 1977 he took up the additional duty of teaching religion at Aquinas High School in La Crosse. In 1980 Father Burke returned to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University. In April 1984, after completing his studies, he was named Moderator of the Curia and Vice Chancellor of the Diocese of La Crosse.

In 1989 Father Burke returned to Rome when Pope John Paul II named him Defender of the Bond of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the first American to hold this position on the Church's highest court. After five years in this post, the Holy Father appointed him Bishop of the Diocese of La Crosse on December 10, 1994.

Bishop Burke was ordained to the episcopacy by Pope John Paul II on January 6, 1995, at the Basilica of St. Peter, and was installed in the Diocese of La Crosse on February 22, 1995, the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter.

On December 2, 2003, Bishop Burke was named Archbishop of St. Louis, succeeding Justin Cardinal Rigali, who was appointed Archbishop of Philadelphia in July 2003. Archbishop Burke was installed in St. Louis on January 26, 2004, the fifth anniversary of Pope John Paul II's historic pastoral visit to the archdiocese. The Holy Father invested Archbishop Burke with the pallium on June 29, 2004, at the Basilica of St. Peter, in Rome.

[NYer]

A CATHOLIC VOTER’S GUIDE -
THE FIVE NON-NEGOTIABLE ISSUES
These five current issues concern actions that are intrinsically evil and must never be promoted by the law. Intrinsically evil actions are those which fundamentally conflict with the moral law and can never be deliberately performed under any circumstances. It is a serious sin to deliberately endorse or promote any of these actions, and no candidate who really wants to advance the common good will support any action contrary to the non-negotiable principles involved in these issues.

1. Abortion

The Church teaches that, regarding a law permitting abortions, it is "never licit to obey it, or to take part in a propaganda campaign in favor of such a law, or to vote for it" (EV 73). Abortion is the intentional and direct killing of an innocent human being, and therefore it is a form of homicide.

The unborn child is always an innocent party, and no law may permit the taking of his life. Even when a child is conceived through rape or incest, the fault is not the child's, who should not suffer death for others' sins.

2. Euthanasia

Often disguised by the name "mercy killing," euthanasia also is a form of homicide. No person has a right to take his own life, and no one has the right to take the life of any innocent person.

In euthanasia, the ill or elderly are killed, by action or omission, out of a misplaced sense of compassion, but true compassion cannot include intentionally doing something intrinsically evil to another person (cf. EV 73).

3. Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Human embryos are human beings. "Respect for the dignity of the human being excludes all experimental manipulation or exploitation of the human embryo" (CRF 4b).

Recent scientific advances show that often medical treatments that researchers hope to develop from experimentation on embryonic stem cells can be developed by using adult stem cells instead. Adult stem cells can be obtained without doing harm to the adults from whom they come. Thus there is no valid medical argument in favor of using embryonic stem cells. And even if there were benefits to be had from such experiments, they would not justify destroying innocent embryonic humans.

4. Human Cloning

"Attempts . . . for obtaining a human being without any connection with sexuality through 'twin fission,' cloning, or parthenogenesis are to be considered contrary to the moral law, since they are in opposition to the dignity both of human procreation and of the conjugal union" (RHL I:6).

Human cloning also involves abortion because the "rejected" or "unsuccessful" embryonic clones are destroyed, yet each clone is a human being.

5. Homosexual "Marriage"

True marriage is the union of one man and one woman. Legal recognition of any other union as "marriage" undermines true marriage, and legal recognition of homosexual unions actually does homosexual persons a disfavor by encouraging them to persist in what is an objectively immoral arrangement.

"When legislation in favor of the recognition of homosexual unions is proposed for the first time in a legislative assembly, the Catholic lawmaker has a moral duty to express his opposition clearly and publicly and to vote against it. To vote in favor of a law so harmful to the common good is gravely immoral" (UHP 10).

ABBREVIATIONS

CCC Catechism of the Catholic Church

CPL Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, Doctrinal Notes on Some Questions Regarding the Participation of Catholics in Political Life

CRF Pontifical Council for the Family, Charter of the Rights of the Family

EV John Paul II, Evangelium Vitae (The Gospel of Life)

RHL Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation

UHP Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Considerations regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions between Homosexual Persons

---

Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics

Catholic Ping - Come home for Easter and experience God’s merciful love. Please freepmail me if you want on/off this list

[pissant]

Fortunately conservative in the US aren't like the weenies in England & Canada. This BS will be stopped.

[NYer]

Ping!

[Steve_Seattle]

The persecution has already started, with such actions as the de-funding of the Boy Scouts because of their opposition to gay scoutmasters and efforts in some countries to criminalize anti-gay speech. Anyone who thinks the gay lobby is a bunch of limp-wristed, harmless nice guys is sadly mistaken. They will do their best to punish and ostracize those who don't accept their agenda in its entirety.

[irish_links]

I hope that there are many more where Archbishop Burke came from. It gives us something (another thing) to pray for during lent, doesn't it?

Regards

[Dominick]

If you are a serious Catholic, you probably already have had problems. I know people talk behind our backs, collectively, about what they perceive as Catholic policies and practices.

[NYer]

It gives us something (another thing) to pray for during lent, doesn't it?

It does indeed. May God bless this humble servant who is not afraid to stand up for the "Truth".

[frogjerk]

Wisdom 2:1-24

They who said among themselves, thinking not aright: "Brief and troublous is our lifetime; neither is there any remedy for man's dying, nor is anyone known to have come back from the nether world.

For haphazard were we born, and hereafter we shall be as though we had not been; Because the breath in our nostrils is a smoke and reason is a spark at the beating of our hearts,

And when this is quenched, our body will be ashes and our spirit will be poured abroad like unresisting air.

Even our name will be forgotten in time, and no one will recall our deeds. So our life will pass away like the traces of a cloud, and will be dispersed like a mist pursued by the sun's rays and overpowered by its heat.

For our lifetime is the passing of a shadow; and our dying cannot be deferred because it is fixed with a seal; and no one returns.

Come, therefore, let us enjoy the good things that are real, and use the freshness of creation avidly.

Let us have our fill of costly wine and perfumes, and let no springtime blossom pass us by;

let us crown ourselves with rosebuds ere they wither.

1 Let no meadow be free from our wantonness; everywhere let us leave tokens of our rejoicing, for this our portion is, and this our lot.

Let us oppress the needy just man; let us neither spare the widow nor revere the old man for his hair grown white with time.

But let our strength be our norm of justice; for weakness proves itself useless.

Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us

He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD.

To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us,

Because his life is not like other men's, and different are his ways.

He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father.

Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him.

For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes.

With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience.

Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him."

These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them

And they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls' reward.

For God formed man to be imperishable; the image of his own nature he made him.

But by the envy of the devil, death entered the world, and they who are in his possession experience it.

[mlc9852]

Not if left up to the courts.

[frogjerk]

If you are a serious Catholic, you probably already have had problems. I know people talk behind our backs, collectively, about what they perceive as Catholic policies and practices.

The misinformation, bigotry, and pure junk about Catholicism overheard at work is disheartening, especially coming from supposed Catholics (more like A&P Catholics).

[Paulus Invictus]

A major HOORAY! for the conservative Catholics! They have it right and I hope they will prevail among all of their members in the US. That may be the only way to overcome the baby killing liberals at the polls.

[NYer]

If you are a serious Catholic, you probably already have had problems. I know people talk behind our backs, collectively, about what they perceive as Catholic policies and practices.

"If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours." John 15:20

It's a question of education. Many catholics are ignorant and/or poorly catechized. That's where you can assist them in better understanding their faith.

[Unam Sanctam]

God bless the good archbishop. I pray he is wrong, but fear he is right. Just look at the legal restrictions on freedom of speech and religion spreading in Canada, Europe and even here.

[irish_links]

A major HOORAY! for the conservative Catholics!

Thanks for the encouragement. We'll do the best we can with what we have.

Having said that, I hope we don't bang on too much about the abuse we take in the process. It's embarrasing and demeaning.

I'm very impressed with what I've seen and heard of Archbishop Burke, but I hope he doesn't slip into the "pity us because we're persecuted" rut. One should be proud to be persecuted for Christ's sake (read the Beatitudes). Otherwise, let's keep our mouths right stoically shut about it.

[nuke rocketeer]

Fortunately, alliances are starting to be formed between real Catholics and conservative Protestants in recognition of their common causes and common Christianity. The Libs have almost entirely lost the Southern Baptists and the Evangelicals and are starting to lose the real Catholics in significant numbers.

[jusduat]

Should be the guide for any that would call themself Christian

[El Conservador]

BARF!!!

How dare this individual (he's not worthy of being called Msgr.) speak about persecution, when he's himself persecuting a humble parish like St. Stanislaus Kostka???

[Dominick]

Fortunately, alliances are starting to be formed between real Catholics and conservative Protestants in recognition of their common causes and common Christianity

I am often astonished by the comments I hear from Evangelicals (whom I think include Baptists) about their perceptions of Catholic Teachings and Rites. A simple correction to what they think and you can see the light bulb go off in their head! We have differences, but a lot in common.

The Libs have almost entirely lost the Southern Baptists and the Evangelicals and are starting to lose the real Catholics in significant numbers

A Catholic who supports abortion is cut off. That is in Canon law. You will hear all kind of gymnastics from liberal Catholics including outright denial, but the CCL and Catechism is crystal clear, assisting the procurement of Abortion cuts you off. To be forgiven in the Church you not only have to be sorry, you have to change your position, and confess that act as a sin. You can't confess, and go back to the same position.

My point is the liberals, by supporting Abortion as a fundamental plank in the platform, can't have any Catholics in good standing; a person's support for the Democratic Party as an organization IS procuring abortion, and removes you from the Church.