The assault on Archbishop Burke is beginning...

Catholic Action Network for Social Justice (CAN), a small group of "peace" & "social justice" activists here in St. Louis, has begun a letter writing campaign to the Post-Dispatch, the St Louis Review, and to the Archbishop to register their complaint and disappointment with Archbishop Burke. Purportedly, this is about the Archbishop's recent statements regarding abortion, politicians and voters. However, I suspect there is more to it than this.

Invoking Cardinal Bernardin's "Seamless Garment" opinion, they complain implying that the Archbishop has named abortion as the only relevant issue today and that he is attempting to sway voters toward a "right wing, Republican agenda". Interestingly enough, he recently approved for use in the Archdiocese, the Catholic Answers "Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics" which lists five 'non-negotiable' items which must be considered when voting. Unfortunately, this isn't what those at CAN want to hear. It seems that to CAN, the only disqualifying issues are those "pro-life issues" such as protecting the poor, promoting global peace, and funding education, health care, and environmental initiatives. However, this applies ONLY if one happens to be fortunate enough to be alive first!

This is a group which advocates, among other things, women's ordination and which appears to deny the Church's teaching that homosexuality is objectively disordered and homosexual acts are "acts of grave depravity" (CCC 2357).

Their latest smear attempt of Archbishop Burke is in the following letters:
First the letter to Archbishop Burke:

Dear Archbishop Burke,

I am a faithful Catholic, and active member of my faith community. I am writing to express my disappointment by your statements to the St. Louis Post Dispatch and Charlie Brennan Show concerning abortion and the upcoming elections.

Archbishop, as you know, the issue of ‘pro-life’ extends beyond the single issue of abortion to include care for the poor and elderly, dignity for the dying, and basic human rights for all of God’s children. Your comments naming abortion as the single voting issue by which to judge candidates appears to contradict the ideal of the “Seamless Garment of Life” developed by Joseph Cardinal Bernadin. Furthermore, it appears a partisan attempt to sway Catholic voters towards one political party. Although an espoused pro-life president, George W. Bush has slashed program budgets that protect the environment, tend to the poor and vulnerable, and promote the rights of the worker. Surely the lives of the factory worker, the homeless woman, and the homebound senior citizen are no less valuable than those of the unborn.

I hope you will rescind your comments naming abortion as the sole voting issue for the upcoming elections, and help promote the dignity of the whole human person- unborn and born alike. I look forward to your response on this issue.

Sincerely,

Note the "I am a faithful Catholic" - much like John Kerry, I suppose. I am curious what they mean by the phrase "dignity for the dying"? It sounds like a euphemism for euthanasia.
Anyway, their letter to the Post Dispatch reads:

I am a faithful Catholic, and disappointed by the narrow agenda of Archbishop Burke in citing abortion as the single voting issue by which to judge candidates. The Archbishop’s comments seem to assert that the lives and dignity of factory workers, homeless people, and senior citizens (all attacked by the policies of our so-called ‘pro-life’ President,) are less valuable than the unborn.

The Archbishop’s comments are a partisan attempt to sway Catholic voters towards a right-wing, Republican agenda. Catholics should see through this attempt to sway their votes, and choose candidates who protect the poor, promote global peace, and fund education, health care, and environmental initiatives- true ‘pro-life’ issues.

Rather than denying Communion and excluding even more people from the Church, Archbishop Burke should rescind his comments, and promote the dignity for all people- unborn and born alike.

And last, but not least - the letter to the St. Louis Review:

I am a faithful Catholic, and disappointed by Archbishop Burke’s comments citing abortion as the single voting issue by which to judge candidates. The Archbishop’s remarks seem to assert that the lives and dignity of factory workers, homeless people, and senior citizens (all attacked by the policies of our so-called ‘pro-life’ President,) are less valuable than the unborn.

The issue of ‘pro-life’ extends beyond the single issue of abortion to include care for the poor and elderly and basic human rights for all of God’s children. Naming abortion as the only crucial voting issue contradicts the ideal of the “Seamless Garment of Life” elucidated by Joseph Cardinal Bernadin. Furthermore, it appears a partisan attempt to sway Catholic voters towards one political party. Although an espoused pro-life president, George W. Bush has slashed program budgets that protect the environment, tend to the poor and vulnerable, and defend the rights of the worker. Rather than denying Communion and excluding even more people from the Church, Burke should call on Catholics to promote the dignity of all people- unborn and born alike.

The contempt that is displayed for the Archbishop is painfully obvious - notice that he is not properly addressed in the letter. This contempt was noticeable from the very beginning when Archbishop Burke was assigned to St. Louis, primarily , it seems, because he is an upright, orthodox bishop intent on teaching and sanctifying the faithful - at least those whose humility, respect and docility are such that they might be taught. When pride and arrogance reign supreme over an individual, we witness behavior such as that expressed in these letters.

This is what happens when dissent is allowed to flourish unchecked in a diocese. When a bishop begins to explain the authentic teachings of the Church (and Cardinal Bernardin was not the Church), those whose have been educated in a contrary manner become upset...and rebellious.

I heard mentioned the other day that while there may be a shortage of men answering calls to the priesthood, there is no shortage of those who think they are being called to be pope. Here we have a perfect example of this.

For those who would like to see this for themselves, it is here.

As I said previously, Archbishop Burke needs our prayers and support now more than ever - perhaps he may even be able to convert some of these professed 'Catholics' to Catholicism some day. We can only hope and pray!