Archbishop Burke Stands Up For Life

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MORE FROM ED PETERS.

AND MARK BRUMLEY.

Author: Jimmy Akin

Jimmy was born in Texas, grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith, and in 1992 he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in Surprised by Truth. Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine, and a weekly guest on "Catholic Answers Live."

81 thoughts on “Archbishop Burke Stands Up For Life”

  1. If all bishops had His Excellency’s virtue and public moral outcry the Catholic Church would be sittin’ pretty.
    Archbishop Burke is awesome!Where do we get more like Him.
    He also loves and promotes the Pian Mass.
    God bless His Excellency and God bless the Catholic Church.
    Viva Cristo Rey!

  2. Dan
    I agree with you totally. I saw an interview with the Archbishop on EWTN at the end of the USCCB conference and he was expressing his complete and utter frustration over the Councils refusal to come up with a complete and total ban on offering communion to known, vocal pro-abortion candidates
    One can respect this man and the church would be what she once was with a hundred or more Burkes

  4. Brumley: The organizer of the event is quoted as saying, in justification of Crow’s appearance, that the event isn’t about ideology but about helping children. Well, abortion isn’t about “ideology”; it’s about killing children.

    Nuff said.

  5. One can respect this man and the church would be what she once was with a hundred or more Burkes
    If ever there were a case for cloning, it’s Archbishop Burke 😉

  8. It’ll be interesting to see what google trends will show in the next few weeks…so far, “sheryl crow” doesn’t show a spike (www.google.com/trends)

  9. Abp Burke unwilling to put money in front of his beliefs… I admire that! I have to wonder what a stink would be created if the proceeds from said event were to be redonated to life cause… hmmm… hey prof – does that mean I still have attachment to sin?

  10. Before I get flamed, I want to preface my question is a disclaimer. I’m asking an honest question. I’m not trying to make an argument to defend Sheryl Crow; I hate her position on abortion and I don’t even particularly like her music. So….
    The problem is that it would cause scandal to the Church if Sheyl Crow, who actively supports abortion, were to raise money for the hospital, right? Didn’t Mother Teresa accept money (and put it to good use) from high profile corrupt people? Wouldn’t that cause scandal even though Mother Teresa obviously didn’t condone the corruption? Also, we disagree with most Protestants on several issues including big issues like birth control, but we associate with them on the things they get right. How is this situation different?

  11. I think one difference is that Sheryl Crow isn’t merely writing a check. As a performer she’s acting almost as a spokesman.

  12. Blessed Mother Teresa never took money from corporations or people that publically advocated tearing babies to shreds in their Moms wombs.
    Archbishop Burke is shepherding the Church in an impeccable fashion.
    His Excellency is doing what every single bishop is called to do.
    God Save His Excellency!

  13. The archdiocese of St. Louis has a great set of FAQs etc here. There’s also a very good short video in which he explains his perspective that you can either download from that page here or on youtube here.

  14. Isn’t Burke the man who said he would deny Communion to John Kerry and then later changed his tune saying Catholics can vote for him if they believe his stance on other moral issues outweighs the abortion-rights stance?

  16. Right, right, all the fault of the news. Burke is blameless, never caused any scandal by his choice of words.

  17. Tim,
    His Excellency is a Bishop of the Catholic Church not to be addressed as a,”man”.
    God bless you

  18. Wow, Tim, your extensive research goes all the way to reading an AP article. I think this is the paragraph that you’re refering to:
    Burke made national news during the 2004 U.S. presidential campaign by saying he would deny Communion to Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, a Catholic who supports abortion rights. He later clarified the statement to say Catholics can vote for such candidates if they believe the candidate’s stance on other moral issues outweighs the abortion-rights stance.
    The wording makes it sound as if Archbishop Burke contradicted himself when he didn’t.

  19. I didn’t say he contradicted himself. A “later clarification” isn’t a contradiction. As Burke said, the application of the church’s discipline in this regard is weak and a source of scandal.

  20. Most of what is reported about Archbishop Burke is, at best, incorrect out of a sort of benign ignorance of who he is and what his office requires of him. All to often the reporting go far beyond that and deliberately mis-characterizes statements out of genuine disdain for the Church, its teachings, and so forth.
    The current reporting over his resignation from the BOD of the Cardinal Glennon Hospital for Children Foundation is no exception whatsoever. The Archdiocese of St. Louis (of which I am a local member) has gotten much better at using technology to let people see for themselves what the Archbishop actually has to say on a topic. You can see a their resources on this particular story here.
    Of course the Archbishop has his failings, and he is the very first to admit them in public. I have heard him on more than one occasion give a homily or other address, and any open-minded listener would conclude that this is a truly humble man who is well aware of his limitations, yet genuinely loves both the Church, its members, and those who hate the Church.
    For example, I witnessed Arch. Burke lead about 1,000 people in a group rosary as we walked down a sidewalk one cold, dreary January day to stand in front of the local planned parenthood abortion facility. Arch. Burke stood in front, in fact prayed an entire decade while standing nearly face to face with an overtly hostile crowd inside the fence at the planned parenthood place.
    While they occasionally hurled insults, his love and peace set the tone for the crowd, and his willingness to stand in front (no police escort, no “bodyguards” etc.) in a physically vulnerable position strongly encouraged those praying the rosary, and frankly put the opposition in an uncomfortable position. They appeared to come ready for a fight, and did not know how to respond to genuine love. This was especially evident when the decade that was prayed in front of the abortion facility was laced with sincere prayer for those who came to the facility for abortions, those who brought them there, and for those who performed and assisted in the abortions.
    At any rate, that is only one of many, many examples. Arch. Burke is often portrayed as a harsh, judgemental man who only cares about laws and rules, and doesn’t give a whit for actual people and their concerns, problems, and heartaches. Nothing could be further from the truth.
    Tim, I’d ask you and others who are quick to ding the Arch. to take the time to see what he actually says before throwing around half-remembered innuendo. Perhaps watch him talking on a difficult topic, like his current calling the BOD of the Foundation to a higher standard, here. Watch that thoughtfully and prayerfully and then form an opinion.
    Without fault? Of course not. A tremendous Archbishop who will faithfully witness to the truth of our Lord, his Church, and the hope in which we all may live, even at tremendous personal cost? Absolutely!
    And for that I am daily thankful.

  21. One clarification … in my relating the story of the rosary in front of the planned parenthood facility, the crowd praying the rosary was very docile and prayerful at all times – following the lead set by Arch. Burke.
    The occasional catcalls and insults came from the people gathered inside the fence at the planned parenthood facility.
    Hopefully that is clear – sorry for any confusion.
    Thx.

  22. I know that His Excellency is as close to a perfect Bishop as we have in the United States of America now.
    God bless you

  23. One more clarification … it was five decades in front of the facility (the sorrowful mysteries, appropriately enough) … it was a very interesting and moving 20 or 25 minutes, face to face (really only a few feet apart, separated by a very stout iron fence), 1000 people behind the archbishop praying the sorrowful mysteries in unison, the opposition shifting side to side uncomfortably then slowly, one by one, drifting off.
    Truly a grace-filled moment.

  25. His Excellency Archbishop Burke is the BISHOP who denied John Kerry the Blessed Sacrament.
    Once a man is ordained he takes on an indelible mark of a priest which he carries with him into eternity.
    You and I are men.His Excellency is a priest and bishop.
    God bless you

  26. You and I are men.His Excellency is a priest and bishop.
    And a man. Even Jesus was a man.

  28. I think the Bishop can do more. He can kick the Franciscan Sisters of Mary out of his diocese.
    He can aslo demand that they rename the hospital as I believe the diocese controls the name rights for “Cardinal Glennon”.

  29. Sdben5, the benefit was organized by the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation. The management and the executives of the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center did not plan the event. The good nuns are not associated with the Foundation, which is a fund raising organization.
    Dan Hunter note that Burke made national news during the 2004 U.S. presidential campaign by saying he would deny Communion to Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry. The operative word is “would.” He didn’t actually do it.

  31. the benefit was organized by the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation.
    And the Archbishop was the Chairman of the Board.

  32. Call me cranky if you want, Sdben5, but before you throw out the baby with the bathwater, please check your facts before reacting in such a pathetic, knee-jerk fashion.
    From the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center: “SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center is part of SSM Health Care, one of the largest Catholic health care systems in the country. SSM is sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters of Mary and owns, operates and manages 19 acute care hospitals in four states – Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin and Oklahoma.
    In 2002, SSM was the first health care organization in the country to be named a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award winner.
    Cardinal Glennon is also a teaching hospital affiliated with the Saint Louis University Schools of Medicine and Nursing.”

  34. If Kerry had aproached the altar rail to recieve the Blessed Sacrament and His Excellency was offering the Sacred Species in Kerry,s prescence it would be denied him.
    The fact of the matter was Kerry never aproached Archbishop Burke.Had he,he comes away empty.
    Would any right thinking person call the Holy Father,”that man who pronounces anathema”.
    No of course not.In the same light you do not talk about a prince of the Church,as “that man”Out of respect for his office.He is a direct descendant of one of the faithful eleven who witnessed God Incarnate.
    God bless you.

  36. Mr. Ed,
    Your so called “facts” in no way express the Sisters faithfulness to the teachings of the Church, but before you throw out the baby with the bathwater please check your facts before reacting in such a pathetic, knee-jerk fashion.
    A deeper search into some of the facts reveals that St. Louis University is a Jesuit university with their first-listed value to impart to students as “a concern for the sanctity of human life.”
    As a good faith gesture (pun slightly intended),
    the Sisters at the hospital should refuse any donations from the charitable foundation gained by the concert.

  37. And in an aside comment, St. Louis University hired Rick Majerus as their new men’s head basketball coach. Rick is expected to earn $1 mil a year plus perks and endorsements. Next year St. Louis plays in a new $80 mil arena. Not bad eh?

  39. A Bishop is a man, who is a ministerial priest. A Laymen is also a priest, though not a ministerial priest, but still no less a priest than a Bishop as they are both priests of the same priesthood – the one priesthood of Christ. This is all catholic teaching, though I imagine hard to hear when you find it difficult to say that a Bishop is even a man at all.

  40. Jason,
    You are wrong when you say that a layman is a priest.
    We have not been consecrated in Holy Orders.
    What you mean to say is that we share in the priesthood of Christ.We are not priests.
    If we were I could go up on the alter In Persona Christi and consecrate the sacred Host.
    I cannot and will never be able to be a priest ,since I have not been called to the priesthood.
    There is no comparison between the vocation laymen share and that of the annointed and consecrated priesthood and episcopate.
    To think otherwise is not Catholic.
    God bless you.
    E-Mail me if you want to discuss this further.

  41. Precisely because it derives from Church communion, the sharing of the lay faithful in the threefold mission of Christ requires that it be lived and realized in communion and for the increase of communion itself. Saint Augustine writes: “As we call everyone ‘Christians’ in virtue of a mystical anointing, so we call everyone ‘priests’ because all are members of only one priesthood.”
    — Christifideles laici, Pope John Paul II, 1988

  42. Burke to mirror worshippers: Stop worshipping the mirror.
    Left wing dominated media: This guy is intolerant of mirror worshipping! What a bigot! Don’t you agree, mirror? *they hold up their mirror and shake it, imitating as if it were shaking its head*
    🙂

  43. I have a question in the same manner of Giacinto. Does Nancy Pelosi’s church accept her offering envelope every week? If so, is this wrong of them to accept money from someone who publicly spreads heresy?

  44. Brian, I don’t think it’s the money that really matters there. The scandal is already present in having Nancy Pelosi as a communicating member of the parish without making any remark. Now if the priest had said something about it, and Pelosi somehow cared to come to church anyway, sit in the pews, and give money – which wouldn’t of course happen – I don’t think the church would give back the money.

  45. Thanks Eileen, I think you’ve cleared up the distinction. There’s a difference between accepting money from someone who’s earned that money legitimately despite promoting abortion and using someone who promotes abortion as a face for your fundraiser, especially a fundraiser for children.

  46. Louise Lears, a nun at Saint Cronan Church in St. Louism said she was surprised when she heard Archbishop Burke’s statement. She said many other parishioners did not connect Crow’s name with abortion rights activism. She was hesitant to support an outright ban on her performance and said applying such a tough standard could keep speakers from attending events at Catholic universities or other institutions.

  48. Louise Lears, a nun at Saint Cronan Church in St. Louism said she was surprised when she heard Archbishop Burke’s statement. She said many other parishioners did not connect Crow’s name with abortion rights activism.
    According to articles, Cheryl Crow was on T.V ads in Missouri to push the recent stem cell research bill that passed there. It’s hard to get more public than that. And Archbishop Burke told the board about her almost two months ago.
    She was hesitant to support an outright ban on her performance and said applying such a tough standard could keep speakers from attending events at Catholic universities or other institutions.
    The Archbishop’s whole point was that people who publicly protest against the Truth should not speak at Catholic institutions – it causes scandal. Why should they, Paul?

  49. Some people prefer not to know. By your reaction to the report of what the nun said, you seem to be among them.

  50. Even if no one except His Excellency knew about Crows support of Killing babies it is imperative that the hospital be boycotted.
    Moral evil is moral evil it does not matter if it is acknowledged or not.
    God bless you.

  51. it is imperative that the hospital be boycotted
    Boycott the hospital? The benefit was organized by the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation, not the hospital. The management and executives of the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center are not responsible for planning the event. The Archbishop said it was up to each individual Catholic to decide if he or she should attend the benefit.

  52. Lana,
    His Excellency not only boycotted the hospital,he pulled himself out of it altogether.
    He is setting a great example for everyone else,as befits a shepherd of souls.
    God bless you.

  55. Some people prefer not to know. By your reaction to the report of what the nun said, you seem to be among them.
    Paul, prefer not to know what? I asked you because I would like to know. I responded to your post explaining why it was necessary for Archbishop Burke to do what he did. If there was something about the language I used that was offensive, please let me know and I’ll apologize for it.

  56. Archbishop Burke is not boycotting the hospital. The event and the hospital are not the same thing. To quote the Archbishop, “I want to assure the management and employees of Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital of my continued admiration and support for the wonderful treatment provided at our excellent children’s medical center. I cannot say enough about their commitment to the lives and health of the children they serve.”

  57. Actually, I’ve wondered if Catholics should take the initiative and collect funds for the hospital in Burke’s name. The hospital itself seems a worthy cause, and living up to its Catholic name, according to former patients.

  58. She was hesitant to support an outright ban on her performance and said applying such a tough standard could keep speakers from attending events at Catholic universities or other institutions.
    You mean people pronouncing views that are anti-Catholic would be barred from speaking at Catholic universities and fundraisers? What a shame that would be… I mean, if that happened, then students at Catholic universities might learn Catholicism.
    And the Church dares to apply tough standards? Where is that in the Bible? Oh wait, here it is: “I would rather you were hot or cold. Lukewarm, I vomit out of my mouth.” (Revelations 3:16)
    Maybe some of these performers and political hacks need to realize that just because they have freedom of speech in this country doesn’t mean that we have to listen to them (or pay them to tell us their free speech).

  59. Eileen, I like your idea. A fund created in the Archbishop’s name would be a great way to show that you could raise money without Sheryl Crow. Also, a letter drive to let Doug Ries and the Cardinal Glennon board know that this decision has impact well beyond the dollars they made.

  61. Burke is very different from the late John Cardinal O’Connor who would feature pro-aborts Jeanne Kilpatrick and Ed Koch at Catholic events.

  62. There’s just nothing like posting a complete non-sequitor in order to speak ill of the dead.

  63. I would love to know whether Archbishop Burke is encouraging Catholics to support places where pregnant, unmarried women can have their children safely, learn how to care for their babies and perhaps get some vocational counseling, where appropriate. Also, I would love to know whether he is devoting archdiocesan resources to such endeavors.
    If he is doing neither, then he is causing as much scandal as Sheryl Crow, if not more (and, no, I don’t support abortion on demand).
    Frankly, I’m sick and tired of bishops and archbishops playing political games, whether they support or oppose abortion. If they really care about the issue, they’ll do more than just talk; they’ll literally put their money where their big mouths are so they can really help those in need.
    Unfortunately, our Church is a lot more about esoteric, academic talk than about Christian action. More unfortunately, a lot of “good Catholics” let our bishops get away with this garbage. I wonder what a holy, righteous God thinks about this?

  65. Joesph D’Hippolito,
    How much money do you put where your big mouth is towards very needed programs?
    Take care and God bless,
    Inocencio
    J+M+J

  66. “If he is doing neither, then he is causing as much scandal as Sheryl Crow, is not more…”
    In other words, you don’t know what Archbishop Burke is doing or not doing, but you won’t let your ignorance keep you from taking a pot shot at him. I wonder what a holy, righteous God thinks about that?

  67. You know, you people are really pathetic. You settle for so little from our “shepherds” when God, who has given them much in terms of authority, expects much from them. Refusing to go to a fund-raising dinner is an act of moral courage?!?!? Well, that’s setting the bar pretty low, isn’t it?
    Then again, these threads aren’t really dedicated to serious discussion. No sirree. They’re dedicated to the mutual backslapping and rhetorical masturbation that comes with valuing pride in mere group identity over anything else, including faith in God.
    You people make the Jonestown crowd look like free-thinkers. For you, the Catholic Church is a cult, given the way you respond to legitimate challenges.
    Given the right circumstances, y’all would have consumed the Kool-Aid yourselves 30 years ago.

  68. Joseph D’Hippolito,
    If you don’t enjoy the company why do you keep inviting yourself?
    For the last time. You do not speak for God. He gave that authority to His Bride that He established. Insult her at your own peril.
    Take care and God bless,
    Inocencio
    J+M+J

  70. Hippo:
    You settle for so little from our “shepherds”
    You settle for so little as a so-called “Christian” — so I don’t even know why you would bother setting the bar so high for other folks when you, yourself, aren’t capable of living up to such high standards as a mere Christian in fact.
    Plus, how’d you suddenly become the epitome of Christian morality?
    Did you somehow become canonized without my knowing?

  71. Dan Hunter,
    That doesn’t answer my question. Of course she didn’t take money from corporations that fund ripping babies apart. I didn’t say she did.
    I just wanted an explanation of what I saw as a possible parellel situation (not same but parellel). If just want to know if someone could read the two situations and either tell me how it’s not parellel or tell me how the one is definitively ok and the other isn’t. Or is it us to interpretation?

  73. I would love to know whether Archbishop Burke is encouraging Catholics to support places where pregnant, unmarried women can have their children safely, learn how to care for their babies and perhaps get some vocational counseling, where appropriate.
    My diocese supports the Gabriel Project which does just these things. I don’t know if all diocese participate in it, but I also don’t believe its just a local thing. Maybe someone from St. Louis can let us know if they have the Gabriel project or something like it there.

  75. “A spokeswoman for the archdiocese, Anne Steffens, said the decision was not made by the archbishop. But Zahner said an archdiocese policy forbidding a public forum for speakers who diverge from church teaching clearly reflects Burke’s position.”
    Archbishop Burke didn’t technically make the request, but I think it’s safe to infer he’s behind it. I know there’s been arguments about using other languages here, but the Archbishop’s got cojones.

  76. Cliff,
    The RFT – Riverfront Times is a rag and this report is not fair or accurate. Many in the seculare media attacked Archbishop Burke the moment it was announced he was coming here to St. Louis. They did not like his strong pro-life stance. I suggest getting news form reliable news sources; the RFT is not one of them.

  77. Crow giving her time and talent to this cause is no more an endorsement of abortion by Glennon Hospital than Burke is endorsing racism by being on the Board of an institution named for his segregationist precedessor.

  79. Sigh… if only the American Bishops would listen to their Holy Father. Heck, if they set the example maybe the American laity would in turn listen to the American Bishops.

  80. Pope condemns abortion on Latin America trip
    Excerpt:
    SAO PAULO, Brazil – Pope Benedict XVI began his first trip to Latin America Wednesday by laying down church law on abortion, suggesting that he agrees with bishops who said Catholic politicians in Mexico had excommunicated themselves by legalizing abortion in that nation’s capital.

  81. [i]Blessed Mother Teresa never took money from corporations or people that publically advocated tearing babies to shreds in their Moms wombs.[/i]
    Actually, yes she did.

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