Pope Francis ousts US cardinal from Vatican home: Report
Pope Francis Takes Action Against American Critic
In a shocking turn of events, Pope Francis is reportedly planning to punish an American critic, Cardinal Joseph Burke. According to The New York Times, the pope intends to evict Burke from his Vatican-subsidized apartment and revoke his retired cardinal salary.
This move has sparked outrage among conservative Catholics, with Michael Hichborn, president of the Lepanto Institute, calling it a “vicious act.” The pope’s alleged statement, as translated by Google, further fuels the controversy: “Cardinal Burke is my enemy, so I take away his apartment and his salary.”
It seems that Cardinal Burke has long been a target of Pope Francis, with the pope reportedly viewing him as a symbol of the Church’s doctrine and tradition, elements that annoy him. This ongoing enmity has now escalated to a new level.
I had resisted posting early reports of this story, because I thought they couldn’t possibly be true. We have reached a new level of Papal vindictiveness.
Pope punishes leading critic Cardinal Burke in second action against conservative American prelates https://t.co/ehdRq0v3mp— Raymond Arroyo (@RaymondArroyo) November 28, 2023
During a meeting on November 20, Pope Francis reportedly referred to Burke as a source of “disunity” in the Roman Catholic Church. The Associated Press quotes the pope as accusing Burke of using church benefits against the Church itself.
The Times report reveals that Pope Francis plans to impose “measures of an economic nature and canonical penalties” on Burke. While the Vatican has not denied these claims, Vatican representative Matteo Bruni has refrained from commenting on the matter.
This recent action against Cardinal Burke follows the removal of another conservative critic, Bishop Joseph Strickland. Strickland responded to the news by stating that if the reports are accurate, they must be opposed, and if they are false, they should be corrected immediately.
If this is accurate it is an atrocity that must be opposed. If it is false information it needs to be corrected immediately. https://t.co/at0IDpWWtf
— Bishop J. Strickland (@BishStrickland) November 28, 2023
Cardinal Burke holds significant influence within the American branch of the Catholic Church. He even authored the preface to a book that warned of a potential schism resulting from a pope-sponsored gathering on the Church’s future.
David Gibson, director of the Center on Religion and Culture at Fordham University, compares the seriousness of these charges against the pope to accusing the president of sedition. The disagreements between Burke and Pope Francis primarily revolve around LGBT issues and immigration, with Burke criticizing the confusion and division caused by the pope.
During a recent forum, Burke expressed his opposition to altering the Church to fit radical ideas, calling it a “harmful goal.” He further stated, “It’s unfortunately very clear that the invocation of the Holy Spirit on the part of some has as its aim to push forward an agenda that is more political and human than ecclesiastical and divine.”
These developments have sent shockwaves through the Catholic community, leaving many questioning the motives behind Pope Francis’ actions. The situation continues to unfold, and the controversy surrounding Cardinal Burke’s punishment shows no signs of abating.
The post Pope Francis Evicts Conservative American Cardinal from His Vatican Home in ‘Vicious Act’: Report appeared first on The Western Journal.