The Judge of Bishops (Raymond Burke named to the membership of the Congregation for Bishops)

WITL ^ | October 17, 2009 | Rocco Palmo

[NYer]

As the Holy See remains open for business on Saturdays, weekend news is always a possibility on the beat... and a move this morning will likely garner no shortage of reaction in church circles, and from all sides at that.

Earlier today, B16 named the church's "chief justice" Archbishop Raymond Burke to the membership of the Congregation for Bishops, giving the 61 year-old prelate a seat at the dicastery's all-important Thursday Table, whose votes recommend prospective appointees to the Pope.

As a result, Burke's impact on the process and its outcomes could extend for two decades; normally renewed on a five-yearly basis, Curial memberships automatically cease at age 80 both for bishops and the college of cardinals, which the Wisconsin-born prefect of the Apostolic Signatura is likely to join at the next consistory, expected to take place sometime in mid-2010.

Best known for his oft-controversial commentary on public life, the naming of the former St Louis archbishop gives the US its fifth seat on the 30-member A-list group, joining Cardinals Bernard Law (archpriest of St Mary Major), William Levada (prefect of CDF), Francis Stafford (retired Major Penitentiary) and Philadelphia's Justin Rigali, a former #2 at Bishops who's become the Stateside hierarchy's standout kingmaker since his appointment to the congregation in September 2007.

While Burke is the youngest American the congregation's seen since Law's arrival at the peak of his clout in the early 1990s, the age of its most youthful US member until today was Levada's 73; Stafford and Law are both 77, and Rigali turns 75 next April. The heads of both the Signatura and the Apostolic Penitentiary (the top tribunal for matters pertaining to the internal forum) customarily hold a seat on Bishops.

Though it can only be gauged with time, the emergence of a potential "Burke effect" on Stateside appointments bears watching. Since Rigali's return to the table, the congregation's American choices have trended heavily toward pastoral, conciliatory candidates whose ideological leanings have proven tough to read. Along these lines, the recent picks have mostly shown little inclination to enforce Burke's reading of Canon 915, whose preclusion from Communion of anyone "obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin" would, in the prefect's clearly and frequently articulated judgment, see the Eucharist denied to Catholic politicians who defy church teaching on abortion.

While last spring's selection of Archbishop Robert Carlson as Burke's St Louis successor can easily be viewed among said bunch, the new prelate-maker's penchant for unstinting fidelity with a taste for stoking public debate was reflected in at least one recent high-profile pick: Oakland Bishop Salvatore Cordileone, a protege of Burke's who was named to head the northern California diocese in March.

Again, whether the presence of the sanctions' first and most prominent advocate will lead to a shift won't become clear for some time. In the meanwhile, though, it makes a process that's lately become far more complex all the more interesting.

Also named to Bishops this morning was the Vatican's "Worship Czar," the Spanish Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, whose longstanding ties to Pope Benedict have seen him dubbed the Ratzingerino, or "Little Ratzinger."

PHOTO: Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest

[NYer]

Anyone know when the next consistory is scheduled?

[miele man]

from the article:

“...which the Wisconsin-born prefect of the Apostolic Signatura is likely to join at the next consistory, expected to take place sometime in mid-2010.”

[samiam1972]

We need more priests dressed like that on a regular basis. What a beautiful site!

[RobbyS]

Pray for the Holy Father’s good health and long life.

[NYer]

Thanks, it pays to read things in their entirety ;-)

[miele man]

Nihil Persperati. You post many articles so I’m sure you just read it in a hurry.

[Desdemona]

Just because a prelate is outspoken about various topics, doesn't mean he's a good administrator or knows how to run things - or that he's a good judge of character. Let's just hope Rigali has more influence, otherwise Msgr. Gardin will never be elevated and that would be a massive mistake.

[Steelfish]

Unfortunately, the appointment of San Franciscan William Levada as DCF was and continues to be a disaster as was the recent exit of Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith. While Burke’s appointment is to be hailed it may not yield the kind of results that are potentially trumpeted in the article.

[Fast Ed97]

Who was that freeper that stated (a few weeks ago) that Burke’s move to the Vatican from St. Louis was a demotion because he criticized other bishops too much?

[cothrige]

Perhaps you had this in mind?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/religion/2347555/posts?q=1&;page=1#18

[vladimir998]

Kolokotronis is a good guy, but on this one he’s offbase. Everyone knew Burke was PROMOTED. The court he is in charge of is not something someone is exiled to head up. The simple fact is that for many years Burke has enjoyed tremendous support in Rome. He was very well liked by both JP II and Benedict XVI.

[Kolokotronis]

We’ll see. :)

[cothrige]

Kolokotronis is a good guy, but on this one he’s offbase.

Yes, he has always seemed to be just that. And as I am very sympathetically inclined to the Orthodox history and point of view, I also happen to enjoy reading his posts quite a lot.

Everyone knew Burke was PROMOTED. The court he is in charge of is not something someone is exiled to head up.

I felt the same way. It seems to me that this position is obviously an important one, and nothing like being tucked quietly away to avoid doing any harm.

It was also suggested on that thread that Burke was a terrible administrator who left St. Louis in terrible shape, but even if true I don't think that means this appointment is a demotion. Obviously the Holy Father could have given this position to him because of his great strengths, without intending to punish any perceived weakness he may have in diocesan administration.

[narses]

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[Jeff Chandler]

Just because a prelate is outspoken about various topics, doesn't mean he's a good administrator or knows how to run things

Different men have different strengths.

Our former pastor was not a "people priest". He was loved, but he wasn't Father Happy Clappy. But he kept the liturgy egos reigned in, he refurbished the church building with taste and Catholicity, and he got the parish out of debt for the first time ever.

There are plenty of priests around who will speak out, too many who try to be loved, but not enough who do what this man did, and he was exactly what our parish needed.

We miss him.

[Salvation]

Will this have an additional impact on Pope Benedict’s choices? The Bishops being named all seem to be quite orthodox/on the straight and narrow.

[TASMANIANRED]

I’m hoping he starts slapping heads very soon.

[Desdemona]

Kolokotronis is a good guy, but on this one he’s offbase. Everyone knew Burke was PROMOTED.

Um, having lived through the Burke years in StL as a member of the Cathedral parish no less, I'm with Kolo on this one. There's a lot people don't know. And that's just what happened at the bishop level. My own opinion is that he was Peter-principled up. He's much better suited to be on the high court and I hope Rigali can keep him reigned in when it comes to appointing people because if rumors around here are true, there's some good, solid, bishop material men he's going to try to block.

Burke has all the grace and finesse of an alligator on one of those catch rope things. He stepped on A LOT of toes that in no way should have been, not just the St. Stans people, has zero instincts when it comes to diplomacy, made some incredibly bone-headed personnel moves that showed absolutely that he does NOT have a good judge of character, and spent cash like there's no tomorrow. The seminary did need to be expanded, but we didn't need some of the other stuff.

There's things people don't know. Burke's in Rome to keep him out of the US spotlight and one of the things I really fear is that this move is just going to feed his ego. Talk about someone who has the crosier lean down to an art form, most of the other bishops forget the thing when they go up to the pulpit. Not Burke.

We thank the Holy See for sending us Bishop Carlson. He may not be quite as outspoken, but he's down to earth, a VERY bright man, very much in control and his sermons are to the point of the readings with a joke or two thrown in. He's definitely just what we needed.

[vladimir998]

You wrote:

“Um, having lived through the Burke years in StL as a member of the Cathedral parish no less, I’m with Kolo on this one. There’s a lot people don’t know. And that’s just what happened at the bishop level. My own opinion is that he was Peter-principled up. He’s much better suited to be on the high court and I hope Rigali can keep him reigned in when it comes to appointing people because if rumors around here are true, there’s some good, solid, bishop material men he’s going to try to block.”

No. If there is a good man out there, Burke will not stand in his way at all. Burke is a good and holy man. I have known him personally for almost a decade. I literally have a letter from him sitting on my kitchen table (my first letter ever from the signatura!). I can’t claim to know everything about him, but I know he is a good and decent man. I also know he does much good that he NEVER talks about. If he has a character flaw, it is that he constantly tries to give people second chances because he’s just so charitable. I’ve seen it first hand. He won’t budge on doctrinal issues (nor should he), but he often bends on personal issues even when the person taking the hit is Burke himself.

“There’s things people don’t know. Burke’s in Rome to keep him out of the US spotlight and one of the things I really fear is that this move is just going to feed his ego.”

No. Burke was moved to Rome because he was needed there. He was already - before this promotion - the highest ranking canon lawyer from America EVER. It made sense to put him in charge of the signatura.

“Talk about someone who has the crosier lean down to an art form, most of the other bishops forget the thing when they go up to the pulpit. Not Burke.”

Because he’s not supposed to. The Bishop is supposed to preach with crozier in hand according to longstanding western tradition when he wishes to teach in capacity as a bishop with authority rather than just giving a priestly homily so-to-speak. Burke is a stickler for such traditions. When he was a priest he always followed the rubrics of the Mass. As a bishop he does the same and throws in all of the traditional practices that many Catholics miss. I know of an altar boy - now a college student - who always loved the fact that when Archbishop Burke said Mass he always wore his gloves - as was once standard for bishops.

“We thank the Holy See for sending us Bishop Carlson. He may not be quite as outspoken, but he’s down to earth, a VERY bright man, very much in control and his sermons are to the point of the readings with a joke or two thrown in. He’s definitely just what we needed.”

Time will tell on Carlson. There’s already plenty of wispering that he is not very pro-active.