Cardinal Burke accused of being a liberal modernist

The story so far: Pope Francis has written a 58,000 word blockbuster, Amoris Laetitia, which is soon to be a Hollywood epic, starring Laetitia Casta. However, the reception has been very mixed...

Amorous Laetitia.

We should perhaps recall the standard pecking order for papal utterances:

1. Ex cathedra pronouncements on doctrine or morals, usually accompanied by the sound of trumpets.

2. Encyclicals, like Laudato si', which settled once and for all the question whether, every time you boil the kettle, a polar bear drowns in agony.

3. Apostolic exhortations, such as Amoris Laetitia. Of which more later.

4. Off-the-cuff comments on aeroplanes. Moreover, if the flights are with Easyjet or Ryanair, then passengers are expected to pay extra if they wish to be given some new papal teaching.

5. Interviews with Eugenio Scalfari, especially if his hearing aid wasn't working properly and he has lost his notes.

6. Tweets, such as:

@pontifex Come to communion. All welcome! LOL

Statements made when the pope is wearing a red nose are not Magisterial.

All this means that Pope Francis's Amoris Laetitia is of rather more weight than some random nonsense about women deacons from Fr James Martin SJ, but less magisterial than a doctrinal statement on Father Zuhlsdorf's blog.

Now, reactions to the exhortation vary, but, if you are not sure whether to throw a wobbly or not, then here is a useful flow chart to help you decide.

How you should react to Amoris Laetitia.

So where does this leave Cardinal Burke, once the hero of traddies everywhere, and persona not very grata with Pope Francis? Well, apparently he has refused to jump in with both feet and say "We're doomed! We're doomed! Pope Francis is the anti-Christ! We're going to be overwhelmed with people like Cristina Odone taking communion! Head for the hills! Where's my SSPX Welcome Pack?"

Instead, the great Raymond has said that the document is personal, that is, non-magisterial (a bit like this blog, come to think of it). The argument is that the Pope's exhortation is based on the 2015 session of the Synod of Bishops, which, as everyone knows, was a real chimpanzees' tea party.

Warning - this is what a nasty liberal modernist looks like.

Anyway, don't ask me what it's all about. I'm waiting for the film.

George Orwell's "2014"

It was a cold November 2nd, and in England the Catholic Church was celebrating All Saints Day. For by orders of Comrade Nichols of the Ministry of Truth, all holy days had been moved from their correct dates, as part of a general break with that evil thing known as "tradition".

Winston Smith looked outside, and saw a poster bearing the portrait of an old man in white robes. BIG FATHER IS WATCHING YOU, the caption beneath it ran. Big Father, the man who had seized power eighteen months ago, driving into exile President Benedict the good. Big Father, who kept an iron grip on the Church.

BIG FATHER IS WATCHING YOU.

On another poster were written the slogans produced by Big Father's right-hand man, Comrade Kasper.

SIN IS VIRTUE
JUDGEMENT IS IGNORANCE
CHANGE IS STABILITY
IMMACULATENESS IS FILTH

Winston Smith checked his watch and turned back to his television set, which could never be switched off. It was now broadcasting endless programmes of puppet masses and tango dancing from St Peter's, Rome. The Mass had reached the point where the comrade deacon was instructed to announce the Two Minutes Hate.

Comrade Burke, Enemy of the People.

As usual, the face of Raymond Burke, the Enemy of the People, flashed on to the screen. Comrade Burke had once been one of Big Father's most loyal supporters, but had now disappeared from public life. Some said that he was already dead, smothered in his own cappa maxima, while others claimed that he had merely been exiled to the barren wastes of Malta. On the screen, Smith saw crowds of Catholics screaming words of hatred for Burke, the enemy of the people. "AIRPORT BISHOP!" they yelled. "SELF-ABSORBED PROMETHEAN NEO-PELAGIAN!" "BAT-LIKE CHRISTIAN!"

A bat-like Christian in traditional Cappa Maxima.

The two-minute hate being over, the Mass continued on its way, with the usual liturgically-approved procession of clowns towards the altar. Winston turned his head away from the screen, and opened his copy of the State Newspaper, the Tablet. "Arrange the following virtues of Big Father in order of importance, then complete the following sentence in not more than ten words. I love Big Father because... First prize: a two-week holiday on Tina Beattie's luxury houseboat, the Tinatanic." Theological debate was not what it used to be.

The Tinatanic.

There was a hammering on the door. Was it a gang of ACTA thugs, demanding "dialogue"? Or had the thought police discovered that Winston possessed a copy of the suppressed Catholic Herald? Should he have been expecting the Spanish Inquisition...?

Cardinal Burke becomes a cult figure

Following the unexplained demotion of Cardinal Raymond Burke from the post of Cardinal Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura to Patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, a wave of sympathy, love and affection has swept the Catholic world, so much so that Burke is rapidly becoming a cult figure, and significantly more popular than Pope Francis.

The hero of the hour.

Throughout the civilised world petitions are being signed saying "Thank you, Cardinal Burke", or "We love Cardinal Burke", or "Burke, the People's Cardinal", or even "Burke for Pope". Gammarelli's sales of the Burke-style Cappa Magna have gone through the roof - causing a world shortage of silk - as bishops round the world decide to dress up like their hero. On the other hand, Pope Francis is definitely feeling unloved at present, as cruel people send him details of retirement homes and "How to claim your papal pension" booklets. It's fair to say that no clergy are dressing up like the Pope (except indeed Cardinal Burke, as he tries on a set of white robes, "just in case the call should come").

Dressing like the Pope is not always easy.

Although the Protect the Pope blog was closed down by a bishop who felt unable to support its aims, we are told that a new Protect Cardinal Burke blog is to be established, which will counter unwarranted attacks on the cardinal from liberal Catholics, Kasperites, and jealous popes.

Cardinal Dolan, a well-known heavyweight, supports Cardinal Burke.

Cardinal Burke himself is a modest man, and does not appreciate being made into a cult figure. However, whenever he appears in public, teenage girls whistle and scream with delight - which is not entirely appropriate for a Requiem Mass. His is clearly a hard act to follow, and it is unlikely that the new man, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, will attract the same adoration.

Raymond Burke's new job involves getting the Knights of Malta to cheer up a little.

Late News: Cardinal Burke has decided to challenge the Pope's decision to dismiss him. To do this, he need only appeal to the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura. Since he remains president until the decision is confirmed, he can never be sacked. Q.E.D.