My GREAT Archbishop Burke…
My GREAT Archbishop Burke… Alleluia!! oh, and THANK YOU Bill Donohue!
Bill Donohue is always SO spot on with his commentary. You are a blessing for us Bill thank you from St. Louis where we have been fighting this story all day in defense of our fine shepherd, Archbishop Burke. The analogy to David Duke is a gem!
April 26, 2007
ARCHBISHOP BURKE SHUNS SHERYL CROWPop singer Sheryl Crow is coming to St. Louis on Saturday to perform at the Fox Theater in a benefit concert for the Bob Costas Cancer Center at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center. St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke, who is chairman of the board of governors of the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Foundation (which raises money for the Medical Center), has resigned from the board in protest of Crow’s participation in this event. Because Crow is an abortion-rights supporter, and because the other members of the board would not accede to his request to cancel her appearance, Burke felt that he could not in good conscience remain on the board.
Catholic League president Bill Donohue defended Burke today:
“Once again, practicing Catholics who do not live in St. Louis are envious of the privileged position that Catholics in that wonderful city enjoy. Time and again, Archbishop Burke has proven to be one of the most prominent voices of moral clarity inside and outside the Catholic Church in the United States.
“For a Catholic leader to give cover to someone who is not just incidentally pro-choice, but is a rabid abortion-rights activist would be morally unconscionable. To wit: Crow recently campaigned in Missouri for the right to clone human beings and destroy nascent human life, thus making her presence at a Catholic event morally incoherent. Those who are now criticizing Archbishop Burke—saying he should demur given the money being raised for a worthy cause—should explain how they would react if David Duke were scheduled to speak at a fundraising event to fight sickle-cell anemia in East St. Louis.
“What Archbishop Burke has done is unfortunately controversial. It is unfortunate because his courage stands in stark contrast to the moral lassitude that is exhibited on a daily basis by religious and secular leaders throughout the nation. It is so ironic to note that the very ones who are already blasting him for being too judgmental have absolutely no qualms about condemning him. Three cheers for Archbishop Burke.”
I know I usually keep this blog for topics of prayer, but this is a very important news event. It is so important for the faithful to understand the truth and to fight against the moral wretchedness of our downspiraling culture. Please pray for our Archbishop and for yours too!
If you would like to hear and see the Archbishop’s official statement, click here!
I propose coining a new phrase in honor of bishop Burke: “Burking up the right tree.”
Did you read what Bob Costas (who is associated with the event) said in response to the bishop’s decision? The media seems to think its relevant because their is apparently so much in common between being a Bishop and a sports caster.
Comment by thedivinelamp — April 26, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
I respectfully disagree with Archbishop’s Burke’s action. I am a practicing, pro-life, orthodox Catholic. I disagree with Ms. Crow’s views on abortion public policy. But i do not believe my faith requires me or anyone else to shun any association with her. And I resent those who claim I am not a good Catholic because I believe so.
Comment by Katherine — June 1, 2007 @ 9:56 am
The archbishop is, as a teacher of the faith, trying to explain what “scandal” is for the faithful. He is trying to help us form our consciences according to the truth of the Catholic faith. It is unhealthy for a Catholic to form their character by separating their political stance from their objective obligations as Christians. Should we surrender THE TRUTH to the muddy waters of political correctness I fear we shall ALL be lost. I continue to applaud our Archbishop who is a man of strong moral character and who is desperately trying to shine a light of Christ into this bleak and confused world. So, you see, it would be “scandalous” of the Archbishop if he were not to point out the errors of subjective moralism and relativistic truths.
My Sister in faith, I pray you come to understand what I am trying to explain to you. Certainly I have failed in my poor words, but please take your concern to our Lord for I know He will teach you properly in your own heart.
Comment by aeternus — June 1, 2007 @ 10:54 am
Scandal, according to the CCC is “what leds others into sin.” No one was going out and having an abortion because Ms. Crow contributed to Glennon Hospital. Therefore, he was mistaken to say their would be scandal. No Catholic doctrine tells us we are sinning when we accept charity from people like Ms. Crow, regretable as her views on abortion policy are. She, like myself (you can speak for yourself) is a sinner. The Archbishop did not prove himself to be a good pastor. We hope for better in the future.
Comment by Katherine — June 1, 2007 @ 2:55 pm
I offer my comments only with the greatest sincerity of heart and concern for my Sister in Christ. I truly do not want to disturb your peace any further on this matter of my Archbishop, and I must admit that my own peace is suffering a bit now… In a final word (and this will be my final comment) , I suppose I can only say that we will both have to honor our consciences on this matter. But I really must continue to defend my Shepherd.
The scandal and the point of this whole matter is this…
How can an entertainer, who has with her own might and will chosen to become a public political activist in favor of killing innocent human life (both thru abortion and embryonic stem cell research) have the boldness to then say “Oh, but I’m a nice person really, see I want to sing for sick children at the Hospital. People like my music, and I make them happy. I am only doing right by using my music ability (a God given talent) to then become a political activist who supports scandalous actives (which are NOT of God.)
The point is NOBODY in this world would NOT want to help a sick child! I really don’t think you could find a person on this earth to disagree with that! However, by having compassion for a sick child and want to help on one hand and then on the other hand saying “oh, well maybe you should not have been born in the first place (i.e.. because you believe that unborn life is not as sacred as a sick child) . That does not make sense to me. THAT is SCANDAL, and THAT is what the Archbishop is saying and trying to teach us through this event.
I’m sorry if you can not see this point which I believe to be perfectly clear.
I really must pardon myself from further discussion on this only because it pains me so much to disagree with just about anyone, and certainly on a matter as important as this. I pray for those persons who support abortion and embryonic stem cell research, truly I do. I pray for their souls. But for the church to turn a blind eye to the abomination of such acts and not educate the faithful (young and old alike) than that is a scandal. As our Lord and Savior has taught us, we should and indeed MUST LOVE THE SINNER BUT NEVER THE SIN. Love is compassion, it is not enabling or coddling or humoring grievous sin.
Comment by aeternus — June 1, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
I’m sorry this issue causes you pain. It causes me pain also because I beleive in the end actions such as the Arcbishop’s hurt rather than help the noble pro-life cause.
You write that ; “That does not make sense to me. THAT is SCANDAL” No tmaking sense (as I agree with you that Ms. Crow does not) is not scandal. You have a problem with the meaning of words. Not making sense is a faiu reof logic and reasoning, a fault many of us have.
Nobody SAYS they do not want to help a sick child, but everyday people are indifferent or worse when it comes to helping sick children. A $4 medicine given to a pregant women will prevent her from transmitting AIDS to her unborn child. Yet thousands die every day because “we want to keep our taxes low”. Ms. Crow doesn’t SAY she wants to kill children. Burke had a chance to build on her compassion for sick children and help her move to the next step. he threw away that opportunity. It is sad. It has not saved a single unborn life and may have cost lives.
Comment by Katherine — June 6, 2007 @ 10:26 am
Just a note on the word Scandal which comes from the words:
scandalum
and from the Greek:
skándalon
skándalon - snare, cause of moral stumbling — skandalon originally was “the name of the part of a trap to which the bait is attached, hence, the trap or snare itself, as in Rom_11:9, RV, ’stumblingblock,’ quoted from Psalm_69:22, and in Rev_2:14, for Balaam’s device was rather a trap for Israel than a stumblingblock to them, and in Matt_16:23, for in Peter’s words the Lord perceived a snare laid for Him by Satan.
In the NewTestament skandalon is always used metaphorically, and ordinarily of anything that arouses prejudice, or becomes a hindrance to others, or causes them to fall by the way. Sometimes the hindrance is in itself good, and those stumbled by it are the wicked.
So you must agree that this whole thing is one sticky skándalon from head to foot!
I agree, maybe things could be handled differently. And maybe one day there will be advertisements on television for the 4$ medicine to help stop the transmission of AIDS to babies instead of seeing ads for “dysfunction” during every commercial break! How wonderful to have such a drug, I did not even know of this, thank you for telling me.
I don’t see how we can win a culture war (and that is what it boils down too, fighting against an ever growing culture of death and indifference) without speaking up and out on moral issues. The Archbishop, to his credit, tried for 6 months (behind closed doors) to educate the Hospital and the fundraisers as to the error in judgement to use Ms. Crow but they refused. They could only see the money. (And please know, Ms. Crow is especially targeted in this matter because of her extensive help in passing an amendment to the Missouri Constitution (another scandalous matter) which enshrines Embryonic Stem Cell research and forces every tax payer to contribute to this morally offensive research by law! But I do see your point that perhaps he could have spoken with Ms. Crow and tried to “convert” her. Then again, maybe he did and we must not interfere with that personal matter…
I want you to know I am united with you through this because we both believe in our hearts that the issue of protecting LIFE was highjacked by this whole scandal. It was the fighting and bickering which was played in the media, not the beauty of souls who need our help and protection.
Let us pray together that such matters will not happen again. Let us pray to the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts and minds so we can work together for the benefit of His kingdom. That we may be of one voice which is lifted in praise of ALL LIFE!
Amen and peace to you my sister.
Comment by aeternus — June 6, 2007 @ 1:36 pm