Now that I am back on the ground, I see that His Eminence Raymond Card. Burke gave an interview to a Spanish Catholic news source, Vida Nueva, in which he offered respectful criticism of Pope Francis.
The Vatican Insider version:
Burke: “There is a strong sense that the Church is like a ship without a helm” [brújula – compass]After his criticisms about the Synod being manipulated and censored, the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, is continuing to raise concerns – in an increasingly distressed tone – about the direction the Church is taking,criticising the Pope, whilst at the same time claiming he does not wish it seem like he is speaking out against he Pope.” His latest interview with Darío Menor Torres was published by Spanish religious news weekly Vida Nueva.“Many have expressed their concerns to me. At this very critical moment, there is a strong sense that the Church is like a ship without a helm, whatever the reason for this may be; now, it is more important than ever to examine our faith, have a healthy spiritual leader and give powerful witness to the faith.”“I fully respect the Petrine ministry and I do not wish it to seem like I am speaking out against the Pope. I would like to be a master of the faith, with all my weaknesses, telling a truth that many currently perceive. They are feeling a bit sea sick because they feel the Church’s ship has lost its bearings. We need to setaside the reason for this disorientation because we have not lost our bearings. [OORAH! There it is!] We have the enduring tradition of the Church, its teachings, the liturgy, its morality. The catechism remains the same.” [Do I hear an “Amen!”?]“The Pope rightly speaks of the need to go out to the peripheries,” the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura said. “The people have responded very warmly to this. But we cannot go to the peripheries empty-handed. We go with the Word of God, with the Sacraments, with the virtuous life of the Holy Spirit. I am not saying the Pope does this, but there is a risk of the encounter withculture being misinterpreted. Faith cannot adapt toculture but , must callto it to convert. We are a counter-cultural movement, not a popular one.”
I track back in my mind to Joseph Card. Ratzinger’s 2005 9th Station:
Lord, your Church often seems like a boat about to sink, a boat taking in water on every side. In yourfield we see more weeds than wheat. The soiled garments and face of your Church throw us into confusion. Yet it is weourselves who have soiled them! It is we who betray you time and time again, after all our lofty words and grand gestures. Have mercy on your Church; within her too, Adam continues to fall. When we fall, we drag you down to earth, and Satan laughs, for he hopes that you will not be able to rise from that fall; he hopes that being dragged down in the fall of your Church, you will remain prostrate and overpowered. But you will rise again. You stood up, you arose and you can also raise us up. Save and sanctify your Church. Save and sanctify us all.
The 9th Station in 2005 had its own context, but I believe that the image applies today more than ever.
Look at how the liberal RNS spins this.
What happens when the modern world takes over. It’s off to the breaker’s yard with a broom tied to the bowsprit.