On October 12, Cardinal Burke delivered an address at yet another conference in observance of the 100th anniversary of the Fatima apparitions, this one at Buckfast Abbey in Devon, England.
Like his other presentations on the topic, Cardinal Burke once again spoke of “the urgent need of a new evangelization;” quoting “Saint” John Paul II at length while holding him up as a model of fidelity to Our Lady’s message.
He also once again acknowledged that the Third Secret of Fatima concerns the sacred hierarchy’s “failure to teach the faith, in fidelity to the Church’s constant doctrine and practice,” which amounts to a tacit admission that the Vatican has yet to publish it in full.
And, just as he had done elsewhere, he stated that the consecration of Russia “was not carried out in the manner requested by Our Lady.”
He also repeated the insipid words of John Paul II, “Mary’s appeal [for the consecration] is not for just once.”
Cardinal Burke also saw fit to once again vouch for the fake letter attributed to Sr. Lucia wherein she allegedly said that the consecration of Russia “has been done just as Our Lady asked,” just as he did in his interview with the Wanderer back in August.
This address, however, was very different than the others, and in a most noteworthy way.
Those with ears to hear cannot help but conclude that Cardinal Burke used the occasion of the Buckfast Abbey conference on Fatima as an opportunity to provide a seminar of his own on the present crisis concerning Francis.
Yes, the two are related, but all indications are – at least in my view – that Cardinal Burke’s comments were offered directly in preparation for the long-awaited “formal act of correction,” and what’s more, as a primer of sorts to aid other churchmen in view of what may logically follow should His Humbleness refuse to respond appropriately.
Those who take the time to read the text of the entire presentation (roughly 7,000 words in length) will be struck by the academic tone of much of its content.
A video of the address is also available, a screenshot from which appears above.
Note that the conference was intended for, and was well-attended by, ordinary lay folk.
Even so, much of Cardinal Burke’s commentary consisted of material far more suitable for his fellow prelates, theologians, and canon lawyers.
For example, he offered lengthy citations from the Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Magisterium of Pope Pius X, the Code of Canon Law (both the 1917 and 1983 editions), as well as highly nuanced definitions taken from The Moral Theology Handbook (by Fr. Dominic Prümmer, O.P.), and the Dictionnaire de Théologie Catholique.
Following are some of the more noteworthy portions of Cardinal Burke’s presentation wherein he appears to be assessing the condition of one Jorge Mario Bergoglio:
The Church’s technical term for the abandonment of the faith is apostasy … Apostasy is the total defection from the Catholic faith, whereas heresy is the denial of one or another article of the faith.
Historically, some noted theologians, like Francisco Suárez, have taught that heresy willingly embraced by someone who had before professed the Catholic faith is also a form of apostasy…
As Father Prümmer indicates, for the apostasy to take place it is not necessary that the member of the faithful give adherence to another determinate faith, for example, Judaism or Islam, but simply, “after baptism received in the Catholic Church, defects completely from the faith.” He gives as examples those who abandon their Catholic faith as rationalists, atheists, free thinkers or strict Freemasons.
Following a lengthy quote from E Supremi of Pope St. Pius X noting the apostasy of his own day, Cardinal Burke states:
How much more even today does the Roman Pontiff face the daunting challenge of a widespread apostasy from the faith.
Don’t be fooled. Cardinal Burke isn’t suggesting that Francis in any way strikes a figure similar to that of St. Pius X; on the contrary.
He is cleverly making it plain for the mentally weak that the abandonment of faith known as apostasy concerns the Roman Pontiff of today (if you will allow). This, in other words, is the “daunting challenge” at hand!
Cardinal Burke labored to help his listeners make the connection between Francis and apostasy for themselves as he said:
Apostasy can also manifest itself in an implicit and interpretative manner “when a Christian without formally signifying that he renounces his faith, pretending even to treasure the title of Christian, conducts himself in such a way that one can surely conclude that he has become a stranger to the faith.” Examples are those who applaud the attacks of impiety against religion, who mock the leaders and pastors in the Church, who deride the institutions and sacred rites, the religious life, or who propose or support legislation contrary to divine law or against Church law.
“There is in these exterior manifestations, when they are conscious and above all repeated, the proof that the faith has disappeared from the hearts of those who make themselves culpable for them. It is implicit apostasy.” A particular example of implicit apostasy are the “credentes apostatis,” mentioned in Church discipline:
Credentes apostatis are those who, without themselves having formally apostasized, listen willingly to apostates and, by their words or actions, approve, at least in general, their manner of thinking and of speaking. There are also “fautores apostatis” who favor a cooperation, positive or negative, with apostasy. They are guilty of negative cooperation who “being held by office to denounce, pursue or punish apostates, fail in their obligation.”
[Quotations taken from Dictionnaire de Théologie Catholique]
Look, I am as frustrated as anyone with all of these suggestive allusions that require reading between the lines; as opposed to just stating the obvious in plain and simple language.
Even so, one is hard pressed to deny that Cardinal Burke is deliberately setting forth a description (more properly, an indictment) of Francis – and again, not so much for the rank and file as for others in authority.
As if to make certain that none could be so aloof as to miss the point, he went on to say:
How much more even today movements for a single government of the world and certain movements with the Church herself disregard the moral law because they lack any foundation in God and in His plan for our eternal salvation.
Pssssst. Sound familiar? Did you get that?
The teaching of the Faith in its integrity and with courage is the heart of the office of the Church’s pastors: the Roman Pontiff…
Hint: I’m talking about Francis!
Church discipline, down the Christian centuries, has always addressed the grave evil of apostasy and applied appropriate sanctions both to call the apostate back to the faith and to expiate the grievous harm done by apostasy.
Here, Cardinal Burke is at once defending, yet again, the Dubia, while also suggesting the way in which the “formal act of correction” should be understood; namely, as both a call to embrace the faith (for Francis), and as a means of expiating the harm that he has done to the faithful.
Cardinal Burke made it exceedingly clear to all but the hopelessly dense that the matter at hand concerns Amoris Laetitia:
We think about the ever more diffuse confusion and error in the Church about the foundations of the faith – about the Holy Eucharist and Holy Matrimony, about the truth of the Holy Scriptures – and of the moral life, about acts which are always and everywhere evil and about the just punishment of sin, including eternal damnation for the soul which remains unrepentant of grievous sin.
And all of this, in many places, not only goes uncorrected by the clear announcement of the Church’s constant teaching and practice, but is condoned and even promoted by those charged by Our Lord with the care of souls.
Finally, as if to counter those who will continue to question his motives, he says:
We are not talking about theoretical questions but about a confusion and error which endangers the salvation of souls.
I’m the last person who, like so many neo-cons in the mushy middle, is waiting in joyful hope for the coming of our savior, Raymond Burke (to borrow an out-of-place phrase from the Novus Ordo, prayed by those who believe that Our Lord is truly present on the Altar.)
When it comes to Cardinal Burke, I think there is ample evidence to conclude that he is a disoriented man-of-the-Council.
That said, at the same time, it is clear that he recognizes that the salvation of souls is at stake thanks to the antics of Francis; in particular, as it concerns Amoris Laetitia, and what’s more, he feels duty bound in conscience to address it.
How he will do so and to what end, we will have to wait and see, but his presentation given at Buckfast Abbey, if properly understood, seems to have set the stage.
I believe things are coming into focus. Thanks for the update. Perhaps we will get a nice Christmas gift from the good Cardinal. Our Lady of Victory, pray for us, the Church Militant!
Arch. LeFebvre must be turning, 40 years ago he already warned and exposed the modernists like Cardinal Burke, Schneider and their hero PJPII for totally destroying the Church when they embraced and promoted for last 50 years the so-called “spirit of the vii council” errors of Ecumenism, Religious Liberty, and Collegiality and which to this day they still promote, despite how obvious right we now know Arch. LeFebvre was, they still remain obstinately in denial that these three main “dogmas” of the VII have already done irreparable damage while at same time they’re throwing out these garbage, meaningless, smokescreen dubias and filial corrections to disengenuously make their “skapegoat” Pope Francis look like he is actually the bad guy totally destroying the Church in only four years what they call the so-called VII “orthodox” teachings of themselves and their hero PJPII (smh). How these neocat leaders that have already destroyed the church for last 50 years have suddenly duped so-called “trads” into supporting them is definitely one of the “Pope Francis Effects” greatest achievements.
So what do you call “trads” that strongly support neocat Cardinals that strongly support neocat Popes, the same exact VII loving neocat cardinals and popes whom Archbishop LeFebvre condemned for totally destroying the Church 40 years ago but somehow “trads” now think they can save the church, you know, kind of like how secular conservatives (RINOS) desperately thought Bush, McCain, Romney etc. would save the country from liberalism? how about TINO’s
Bravo Johnjobilbee! Well said!
This reminds me with this 500 year protestant reformation celebration. Its been planned for years since PJPII “celebrated” Luthers 500th birthday. Wheres all the brave “orthodox” cardinals dubias, filial correction on that? Where’s their outrage? Crickets, they can’t because its obvious this is all about blaming Pope Francis and protecting their hero PJPII and they know PJPII has said things to make Luther look like some kind of saint like he also did with heretic John Hus which even “worst Pope ever” Pope Francis hasn’t even come close to doing. Notice they’re crickets when it comes to Pope Francis breaking the first commandment because they realize PJPII broke the sound barriers when it came to that and would only draw him into this and make him look bad. I know Pope Francis probably doesn’t even care if cardinals and “trads” use him as a skapegoat as long as it advances the liberalism in the Church but in my opinion its creepy to me how disengenous and deceptive, especially to new uninformed Catholics that finally just come to realize theres a problem including many priests, this whole “Blame Pope Francis for the destroying the Church” “trad” movement has gotten.
Since so many “trads” claim they’re big Arch. LeFebvre fans maybe they, dubia cardinals and filial signees might want take some time to read (and theres plenty of quotes) what Arch LeFebvre said about the Popes “totally destroying the Church” last 50 years ago, which he was 100 % correct about before they continue blaming Pope Francis their Scapegoat for totally destroying the Church in less than 4 years while putting the popes of 50 years that Arch. LeFebvre’s justifiably condemned on some kind of pedestal. The whole things disgraceful and, imo, ultimately a slap in Arch. LeFebvre face, especially since their hero PJPII is one that “excommunicated” him.
Oh, thats another thing, whining about how Seifert, etc. you know all neocat PJPII the great cultists are so horribly treated by Pope Francis while probably one of the greatest abominations and unfair acts that the Church and PJPII ever committed, and thats quite an accomplishment for him, was when he ruthlessly excommunicated Arch. LeFebvre, yes, kicked out for defending Church teachings that all the dubia cardinals, Seifert and all the other poor neocats “persecuted” by Pope Francis make a mockery of day in and day out.
Thank You Tom A. One last point that really sums up how disengenuous (FAKE) this “Oh No, Pope Francis is destroying the Church” cult is and what a real slap in the face to Arch. LeFebvre, who they claim to be followers of, it really is: One theme they keep repeating is how Pope Francis disses the teachings of PJPII but never, ever have I heard it even mentioned remotely how PJPII for 27 long years dissed the teachings of Pope Pius X and each and every one of the 260 popes before VII so vigorously that he had to actually EXCOMMUNICATE Arch. LeFebvre for trying to stop him.
So actually the dubia and filial correction is based on the hypocritical notion of holding a Pope to the teachings of a Pope before him, but the same exact Pope who dissed the teachings of over 250 popes that came before him. In reality the most important thing PJPII taught Pope Francis was the teaching that its ok to disregard a previous popes teachings which is the teaching of PJPII that Pope Francis follows when he disregards PJPII’s teachings. So when they say he’s not following the teachings of PJPII they’re flat out lying. I guess “Trads” or dubia cardinals hope people are too stupid to see that’s exactly whats happening here although it shouldn’t take rocket science for even new “trads” to figure this one out.
Thats why I see the whole movement as disengenuous or FAKE based on half truths and lies all which can be found in FAKE dubias, filial corrections, “trad” articles, and blogs along with their FAKE commentors and moderators.
I’d actually feel at least catholic answers and other neocats are not talking out of both sides of their mouths probably realizing how hypocritically ridiculous and unfair it would be to condemn what Pope Francis is doing without also condemning PJPII along with all the post VII popes. Till our next argument about who’s pope and who’s not, God Bless.
I totally agree with you, I’m always baffled by this new outrage over the ultimate consequence of VII (Mr. Bergoglio), but the complete failure to trace the problem to its source: VII. I don’t understand how anybody can give any importance to what Modernists say about other Modernists, much less make news in Catholic blogs. Card. Burke and the other New Mass-sayers can only blame their own Modernism for anything going wrong in the Church. This is one occasion in which those words can be said in a true way: Doctor, cure thyself.
Why these “news” constantly appear on Catholic blogs as if we could take Modernists seriously, must be because there’s nothing else to talk about.
Eva.1 Yes you have identified the malaise. What I believe most of the rest of us, want to warn off the undecided, the duped, talk like barking dogs at the approach of the enemy. An assault that began with Vatican 2 and keeps rolling forward like a huge army of evil. I’m over being astounded at the treachery of the heirachy, what really is apparent is the warnings given by Blessed Mother Mary at La Salette, Lourdes Fatima and Akita, all fall into focus, in these days.
But like St Athanasias in his time, we have to resist, Identify and Resist Jorge and his diabolocal politcal views. They cant be traditional, they are modernist and deathly to the souls of millions. Doing nothing isn’t an option.
The astounding thing is His Hand and the avenging angels hands have been stayed for so long. If the Holy Family can draw back true Catholics from this abyss, then its on account of his love for us. Realistically his punishments for the wicked are a given, eternally. Mark well how Jorge seems to dismiss Hell as a salve for whats left of his conscience. Congratulations Louie, all strengthen to your keyboard.
Our Lady of Good Success – ora pro nobis.
Look forward to it. I would add that I think Bergolio is actually in some way brining the whole crisis to a head quicker and with a much sharper distinction. He is making it almost impossible for the fence sitters to continue the charade. One can see them twisting and contorting their words to explain away the latest “papal” pronouncement. It would be actually enjoyable if it weren’t for the fact that souls are at stake.
I for one am not holding my breath for anything this “good Cardinal” plans to do. I have been paying attention to the contortions in the public relations department of the Vaticanistas for a very long time and it has has taught me not to get excited over what any Prelate says or does that touches on orthodoxy.
I look back at their track record. as Bishop of Madison Wisconsin, Cdl Burke’s was anything but stellar.
Over the top dress and living like a Prince does not seal the deal of veracity in traditional orthodox Catholicism , nor do fine words . I will wait for some real action.
Dear Mr. johnjobilbee, I suppose you’re against Bishop Fellay as well. He hasn’t even gone as far as Cardinal Burke has in suggesting that Francis is an apostate. It is so easy to criticize; any dimwit can do it; but to suggest a solution takes someone with brains. What’s your solution?
Frbelland, johnjobilbee is not offering a solution. He is simply pointing out the folly of looking at those who have compromised the faith for a solution. And unfortunately, Bp Fellay has taken a step down the road to compromising by cozying up to Apostate Rome. The solition has been said by many, but heeded by few. I’ll repeat it again, “Have nothing, absolutely nothing, to do with Apostate Rome.” When and if they ever return to the faith, then, as Abp Lefebrve said, regularization would happen without any obstacles.
Oh, yes. Bishop Fellay certainly was “cozying up to Apostate Rome” when he recently signed the document accusing Jorge Bergoglio of promoting heresy. Bet that put him in good stead with the Vatican.
I’m as frustrated as anyone else by the lack of response by Cardinal Burke – and all the other Cardinals – but what I’ve never heard anyone posit is the possibility that Cardinal Burke is acting (or delaying acting) according to specific commands of Jesus Himself. Do we know that he hasn’t been visited by/told by Jesus NOT to make a formal correction at this time? Until he is specifically allowed by Jesus? I’m sure that Cardinal Burke wants to do the right thing and that he is suffering the criticisms of those who question his reticence, but I believe that this is all part of God’s plan for us. I believe that He may have told Cardinal Burke to delay making the Formal Correction until ordered by Jesus Himself, suffering the attacks as part of his role in bringing the Church back to where it is supposed to be.
Just speculation, but to me it makes sense.
Bergolio isn’t the only apostate in Rome.
I think that’s a good one, , Pope Francis as “scapegoat”. That’s rich. He’s a lot of things, but I can’t see him as a scapegoat. Whatever happened in the Church before he was inserted into that Chair of Peter, is pale, pale, ghostly pale, compared to the neon apostasy and madness since. The mindset that puts men at opposition to God, started since man came on the scene. We think of VII as the primary point of departure, and maybe it is in a way, but nobody has perfected the art of destruction as Bergolio has. Whatever errors came before, they are nothing compared to what we have seen during this pontificate. This is active destruction, not incidental, and he is purposefully, relentlessly, working with great zeal and diligence to bring the edifice down from all directions. He is committed to his job, nothing less than total destruction of the faith and the Church. Oh feh, a scapegoat, that would be to put the primary blame on someone else, and he has plenty of diabolical company, but it’s all under his watch, and he gets to take credit for it. No, the ruin of the Church is His baby, and we would be unfair to him to not give him full credit. In number and kind, he is the progenitor of the treachery.
I don’t know if Cardinal Burke is going to issue anything. I’ve kind of reconciled myself to no action being taken by any man, because thus far, no men have done much, although I give the signers of the filial correction props for what they did.
I hope Cardinal Burke does, and Louie makes a good case for the prep working being done here, maybe that’s the case. We can only hope. He does seem to be setting the table. But we never thought we’d get this far, and if anyone had asked me five years ago, I would have said most Cardinals and most Bishops would have jumped to the defense of Jesus Christ and the Church He founded much, much sooner than this. How naïve I was, but I wish I could still be that naïve still.
That has been a wake up call that perhaps has changed things forever. I suppose it’s a minor thing but I’ll never see these men, the Church, the papacy, the same way again. Those days are gone.
A fight between the conciliar church may ensue, but it will not make much difference in the real crisis of the Church. He will never call Francis an anti pope. So nothing may come of it.
Yeah, That Bp Fellay is a true martyr…he signed his name to something that any idiot with the least bit of Catholic common sense would have. Huzzah!
I dont believe that for a split second. God cannot not deceive.
Disregard the “not”.
A schism within the conciliar church….a “false schism” in other words…is the worst thing that could happen. Totally agree with you.
Hmmm,
Remember the vicious murder of Fr Alfred Kunz in Wisconsin?
You have me now wondering if God told the then Bishop Burke about it. According to one of the first legal authorities on the scene , a former acquaintance was told Burke crossed the police tape and removed the files from Fr Kunz’ rectory office. The detective wondered how the then Bishop Burke knew so quickly that the priest’s butchered body was just discovered.
Maybe God told him to get there quickly and remove those files lest another scandal rock the Church?
Afterall , Fr Kunz was discussing satanic pedophilia among clerical sodomites in the church on his Catholic radio show just the night before his death.
http://www.catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=744
There is absolutely nothing wrong with Cardinal Burke’s vestment. In fact, it is the drab, iconoclastic lounge wear that the modern(ist) priest uses that is the offense. When offering the Sacrifice he is acting in persona Christi.
Intention clarifies . I am not God ,so I cannot know his intentions for sure .But what I do know is that he allowed a transgender male in his Diocese to start and Order of religious women and when one parishioner wrote to him to make sure he was aware, he ignored her. Then when she appealed to the Papal Nuncio and alerted him to this fact, the then Bishop Burke made her a persona no grata in all parishes. This is what she told a friend who called to clarify the story.
Same friend spoke to the first Detective on the scene of the Fr Kunz murder. Allegedly the Detective told her that Burke crossed the police tape to remove all documents in the murdered priest’s rectory. You can believe this or not. Personally I do not care but please use brains and not sentiment when praising what looks like a traditionalist cleric.
http://wisecatholic.blogspot.com/2014/08/catholic-priesthood-now-gay-profession.html
Let’s just say that now is not the right time in church politics to spend over the top.
http://www.catholica.com.au/forum/index.php?id=105792
The openly gay clerics claim they are annoyed with Burke because he stays in the closet.
Personally , I do not care where he stays or doesn’t stay.
disordered minds are just that, Disordered.
The struggle between grace and free will is a mystery. I would say the comment by bschuetter is accurate in terms of the workings of conscience for a cardinal especially in the duties of his office and in such a weighty matter.
Hypocrisy at Fatima:
https://gloria.tv/article/Pp13Hf31YnLo24nNYGxkesSg3
Most heartening Louie as Cardinal Burke exposes the naked apostasy of Emperor Francis who is shown to have no faith on him while most others congratulate him on his secularist new look.
Michael Dowd
When is the formal correction of the heresy that a man may be saved provided he lives a good moral life according to his conscience going to be made? Is the salvation of souls unimportant?
Excerpt from Bishop George Hay’s of Scotland (1729-1811) book “The Sincere Christian”:
“At present the gates of Hell seem opened, and infidelity of every kind stalks lawless on the earth; the sacred truths of religion are reviled and denied, the Gospel adulterated by countless contradictory interpretations; its original simplicity disfigured by loftiness of speech and the persuasive words of human wisdom. A thousand condescensions and compliances are permitted in the unchangeable doctrines of Faith and the pure maxims of morality and “the narrow way that leads to life” converted into “the broad road that leads to destruction.”
This observation applies particularly to that latitudinarian opinion so common nowadays, that a man may be saved in any religion, provided he lives a good moral life according to the light he has; for by this the Faith of Christ is made void, and the Gospel rendered of no avail. A Jew, a Mahometan, a heathen, a deist, an atheist, are all comprehended in this scheme, and if they live a good moral life, have an equal right to salvation with a Christian! To be a member of the Church of Christ is no longer necessary; for whether we belong to her or not, if we live a good moral life, we are in the way of salvation!
What a wide field does this open to human passions! What license does it give to the caprice of the human mind!”
“…the precise declaration of the Word of God, that the above free-thinking maxim is diametrically opposed to the light of revelation; for there we learn that the Son of God became man and appeared among men, in order to instruct them in the knowledge of those Divine truths on which their salvation depends; and therefore that He absolutely requires true Faith in Him, and, in the sacred truths which He revealed, as a necessary condition of salvation. There also we learn that He instituted a holy Church on earth, to be the depository of these truths, and that He absolutely requires all to be united with that Church in order to be saved.”