By DON FIER (Editor's Note:
Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke, prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the
Apostolic Signatura in Rome, who formerly served as bishop of the
Diocese of La Crosse, Wis., and archbishop of the Archdiocese of St.
Louis, Mo., recently spent some time in the United States. The Catholic
Servant was granted the opportunity to interview His Eminence in
mid-July on a variety of topics at Eternal Life's The Church Teaches Forum in Louisville, Ky. The Catholic Servant a Minneapolis- based newspaper gave The Wanderer permission to reprint the interview.
(Don Fier serves on the Board of Directors for The Catholic Servant and he writes the Learn Your Faith column for The Wanderer.) + + +
Q.
Six years ago, Pope Benedict issued Summorum Pontificum, which allowed
for the usage of the Tridentine Mass on a wider scale in the Church. In
his accompanying letter to the bishops, the Holy Father stated that "the
two Forms of the usage of the Roman Rite can be mutually enriching." Do
you see concrete benefits that have come to the Church in the past
several years because of Summorum Pontificum?
A.
I have witnessed a number of benefits. First, there is now a much
stronger sense of the divine action in the Ordinary Form. There was a
certain tendency in the celebration of the Ordinary Form to center
attention on the priest and the congregation rather than on Christ, Who
comes into the midst of the congregation through the ministry of the
priest acting in His Person to give the gift of His life as He first
gave it on Calvary and to make that sacrifice new for us in each holy
Mass.
Another closely connected
benefit is an appreciation of the true reform of the liturgy desired by
the Council, namely a reform that would be in continuity with the
centuries-long tradition of the Church, not a renewal that would be a
break from that liturgical tradition. The celebration of the two Forms
of the Roman rite have led to a growing consciousness of the need to
retrieve some of the elements of the liturgical tradition too quickly
discarded after the Council, contrary to the intention of the Council.
In
other words, what Pope Benedict XVI had in mind was to promote the
reform as it was truly desired by the Council, namely a reform in
continuity with the centuries- long tradition of the Church and not a
rupture. The renewed
reformed rite of the Mass is not a new Mass, but is in continuity with the holy Mass as it has always been celebrated.
Q.
It has been about four months since Pope Francis became the 266th Roman
Pontiff. From the vantage point of your office in Rome, have you
observed any tangible changes in tone or day- today operation in the
Vatican? What is the role of the group of eight Cardinals formed by Pope
Francis?
A.
Certainly Pope Francis, as is the case with every Pope, has his
distinctive style which is not the same as Pope Benedict' s. Everyone is
adjusting to that. It is a style that has very much appealed to the
faithful in terms of the number of pilgrims coming to Rome and their
positive and overwhelming response to the new Holy Father. He has a way
of communicating with people that is direct and which demonstrates his
fatherly concern for them as individuals. When people see the fatherly
and spiritual care that he gives to others, they understand that he also
has the same care for them.
With
regard to changes, the Holy Father has indicated that he wants to study a
reform of the Roman curia and that would necessarily mean also a reform
in his way of relating to the particular churches throughout the world.
He is studying all of that at the present moment. Those of us who hold
offices in the Roman curia have been confirmed provisionally until he
has finished this study. As Pope Francis has himself said, he was not
part of the Roman curia and is just now coming to know the operation of
the curia, and that takes time. He has only been in office for four
months, so we are waiting to see.
The
group of eight Cardinals Pope Francis named [ to advise him on the
reform of the Roman curia] is the result of a suggestion made during the
general congregation before the conclave and is actually a suggestion
that was discussed some years ago. The norms for the functioning of the
body have not yet been published and so I cannot say exactly what will
be the scope of the considerations presented to the group or precisely
how it will operate. I imagine that that type of document will be
forthcoming and then we will know more about it. What seems clear is
that the Holy Father wants to have a group of close and highly qualified
advisors to consult with in carrying out his responsibilities.
Q. On May 13 Pope Francis consecrated his papacy to Our Lady of Fatima. What is the significance of this action?
A.
I think it is deeply significant. First, it is an expression of
profound devotion to Our Blessed Mother which clearly marks the life of
Pope Francis. From the very beginning of his pontificate, he has
repeatedly invoked the intercession of Our Blessed Mother whenever he
offers holy Mass. He always reverences the image of the Blessed Mother
in the sanctuary, not only by incensing her or praying before her he
will always reach up and touch the image in an act of special affection
and devotion.
With regard to Our Lady
of Fatima, we know well the prophecies that were given to the three
seers at Fatima which have all now been published and what they indicate
with regard to the attacks of Satan upon the Roman Pontiff. I am sure
that Pope Francis has this clearly in mind and is invoking the
intercession of Our Lady for her protection even as she protected
Blessed John Paul II from an assassin' s bullet. It was on Our Lady of
Fatima's feast day that the dreadful attempt occurred,
and John Paul was fully convinced that she interceded to save his life.
I believe that Pope Francis is imploring that same intercession and
protection from her at this time.
Q.
Things seem to be declining at an accelerating rate in our country. For
example, it is shocking how quickly things happened in Minnesota. A
year ago it seemed almost certain that a November ballot referendum
would constitutionally define marriage as the union of one man and one
woman. Despite a heroic effort by Archbishop John Nienstedt and many
other Church leaders, it failed. Just four months later a law was
enacted making Minnesota the 12th state to legalize so- called same- sex
marriage. How did we get to this point? Aside from prayer and fasting,
what can the faithful do?
A.
First of all, I would underline the need for much prayer and fasting.
The alarming rapidity of the realization of the homosexual agenda ought
to awaken all of us and frighten us with regard to the future of our
nation. This is a work of deceit, a lie about the most fundamental
aspect of our human nature, our human sexuality, which after life itself
defines us. There is only one place these types of lies come from,
namely Satan. It is a diabolical situation which is aimed at destroying
individuals, families, and eventually our nation.
How
did we get to this point? The fact that these kinds of "arrangements"
are made legal is a manifestation of a culture of death, of an anti-
life and anti- family culture which has existed in our nation now for
some time. We as Catholics have not properly combatted it because we
have not been taught our Catholic Faith, especially in the depth needed
to address these grave evils of our time. This is a failure of
catechesis both of children and young people that has been going on for
fifty years. It is being addressed, but it needs much more radical
attention. I can say this because I was the bishop of two different
dioceses.
After fifty years of this, we
have many adult voters who support politicians with immoral positions
because they do not know their Catholic Faith and its teaching with
regard to same- sex attraction and the inherent disorder of sexual
relations between two persons of the same sex. Therefore, they are not
able to defend the Catholic Faith in this matter.
What
has also contributed greatly to the situation is an exaltation of the
virtue of tolerance which is falsely seen as the virtue which governs
all other virtues. In other words, we should tolerate other people in
their immoral actions to the extent that we seem also to accept the
moral wrong. Tolerance is a virtue, but it is certainly not the
principal virtue; the principal virtue is charity. Charity means
speaking the truth, especially the truth about human life and human
sexuality. While we love the individual, we desire only the best for one
who suffers from an inclination to engage in sexual relations with a
person of the same sex. We must abhor the actions themselves because
they are contrary to nature itself as God has created us.
The
virtue of charity leads us to be kind and understanding to the
individual, but also to be firm and steadfast in opposing the evil
itself. This confusion is widespread. I have encountered it many times
myself as a priest and bishop. It is something we simply need to
address. There is far too much silence people do not want to talk
about it because the topic is not politically correct. But we cannot
be silent any longer or we will find ourselves in a situation that will be very difficult to reverse.
Canon 915
Q.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, when recently questioned at a press
briefing about the moral difference between what Dr. Gosnell did in
murdering a baby born alive at 23 weeks as compared to the practice of
aborting a baby moments before birth, refused to answer. Instead she is
reported to have responded: "As a practicing and respectful Catholic
this is sacred ground to me when we talk about this. I don't think it
should have anything to do with politics." How are we to react to such a
seemingly scandalous statement? Is this a case where Canon 915 might
properly be applied? [Editor's Note:Canon
915 of the Church's Code of Canon Law states that those who are "obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to
Holy Communion."]
A.
Certainly this is a case when Canon 915 must be applied. This is a
person who obstinately, after repeated admonitions, persists in a grave
sin cooperating with the crime of procured abortion and still
professes to be a devout Catholic. This is a prime example of what
Blessed John Paul II referred to as the situation of Catholics who have
divorced their faith from their public life and therefore are not
serving their brothers and sisters in the way that they must in
safeguarding and promoting the life of the innocent and defenseless
unborn, in safeguarding and promoting the integrity of marriage and the
family.
What Congresswoman Pelosi is
speaking of is not particular confessional beliefs or practices of the
Catholic Church. It belongs to the natural moral law which is written on
every human heart and which the Catholic Church obviously also teaches:
that natural moral law which is so wonderfully illumined for us by Our
Lord Jesus Christ by His saving teaching, but most of all by His Passion
and death.
To say that these are
simply questions of Catholic Faith which have no part in politics is
just false and wrong. I fear for Congresswoman Pelosi if she does not
come to understand how gravely in error she is. I invite her to reflect
upon the example of St. Thomas More who acted rightly in a similar
situation even at the cost of his life.
Q.
Many faithful Catholics are troubled when high- profile political
figures with unconcealed antilife, anti- family positions are honored in
such ways as receiving invitations to speak at Catholic university
commencement ceremonies and given honorary degrees or memorialized at
public Catholic funeral Masses without having renounced their immoral
positions. Faithful Catholics, at the same time, are taught they have
committed a serious sin if they vote for these same candidates. How are
those who are seriously trying to live out their faith to reconcile this
apparent contradiction?
A.
You cannot reconcile it, it is a contradiction, it is wrong, it is a
scandal, and it must stop! We live in a culture with a false sense of
dialogue which has also crept into the Church where we pretend to
dialogue about open and egregious violations of the moral law. Can we
believe it is permissible to recognize publicly people who support open
and egregious violations, and then act surprised if someone is
scandalized by it? For Catholic institutions or individuals to give
recognition to such persons, to honor them in any way, is a source of
grave scandal for which they are responsible. In a certain way, they contribute to the sinfulness of the individuals involved. There is no way to reconcile it; it simply is wrong.
Mass Attendance
Q.
Polls consistently report that only 20- 25 percent of those who
identify themselves as Catholics regularly attend Sunday Mass.
Consequently, many seem to be unaware of how HHS mandate provisions will
impact religious liberty despite the USCCB and bishops being outspoken
in their warnings. So even though bishops are trying to get the message
out about impending dangers to the family, religious liberty, and so
forth, how can they do so in such an environment? How can the lay
faithful best assist? [Editor's Note: The HHS mandate is the mandate by the Health and Human Services
department of the federal government that requires all health plans to
provide coverage at no cost for contraceptives, abortion- inducing
drugs, and sterilization as part of so- called preventative health
services for women.]
A.
Sadly, in the time after the Second Vatican Council, there was a reform
of the sacred liturgy which made it man- centered and banal. In some
cases it actually became hard for people to bear because of illicit
insertions, foreign agendas, and imposition of the personalities of
priests and congregations into the liturgy to the point that people
began to think that the Mass was some sort of social activity. If they
did not find it acceptable, they did not go anymore.
If
one understands what the Mass truly is, Christ Himself coming down
from Heaven to renew the sacrifice of Calvary, how could you possibly
not be there on Sunday? In the past people understood this and Mass
attendance was in the 80- 90 percent range. We have to restore the
sanctity of the celebration of Holy Eucharist so that those who have
fallen away will return to the practice.
Secondly,
when people are not coming to Mass in great numbers, as is the case,
they do not hear the Sunday homily which is the principal means for
instruction of faithful adults in the Church. In some places, even where
people do attend Mass, they are not being instructed as they should be.
The bishops first, and then the priests with them, must be clear and
consistent in presenting the truth about the freedom of conscience and
the evils of the health-care mandate.
Thirdly,
in the situation as it is, which we simply must recognize, lay people
giving witness to fellow lay people is the only solution. More and more
sincere and informed Catholics must be ready to give an account of their
Faith to others even if they are not the most eloquent and articulate.
The very fact that they approach and speak with a fellow Catholic about a
question like freedom of conscience will not go without a positive
effect on that individual.
Q.
Are we on the verge of reaching a point when well- educated, well-
trained Catholics who are faithful to Church teaching on morality will
no longer be hired in fields like health care, education, social
services, or counseling where their religious beliefs are at odds with
government policies and deviant cultural norms that are considered
mainstream in our society? Is widespread persecution imminent? Is it
possible to hold the government back?
A.
If the present government, which can be described in no other way than
totalitarian, is not held back from the course it is on, these
persecutions will follow. It will not be possible for Catholics to
exercise most of the normal human services whether in health care,
education, or social welfare because in
conscience they will no longer be able to do what the government
demands: to cooperate in grave moral evil. We are heading in that
direction and even see it now.
I
receive many inquiries from Catholic owners of small companies who are
involved with insurance whose consciences are rightly deeply troubled by
the present situation in our country. It is not easy to find a way to
operate with reasonable health- care coverage for some of them. This is
an intolerable situation in our country and it must stop.
Yes,
it can be turned back, we are a democracy. A government like ours can
and must be stopped in what it is doing. Polls tell us that the majority
of Americans are opposed to procured abortion and also are opposed to
the idea of recognizing the sexual union of two persons of the same sex
in marriage or the equivalent of marriage. Why then is our government
imposing this upon a people who, with rightly formed consciences, oppose
these matters?
I never thought I would
ever say this, but we should follow the example of France. The French
people have a government that is sadly much like our own. In a
totalitarian way, it passed and is trying to enforce a bill giving legal
recognition to so- called marital unions between two persons of the
same sex. The French people are out on the streets in protest, one
demonstration had upwards of two million people. There has arisen in
France among the people the will to resist the government and that is
what we need in this country.
We cannot
go along with government policies and laws which are destroying the
most innocent and defenseless among us. This will also redound to great
harm to those who have grown weak through advanced age or serious
illness. This is all a pattern: the complete corruption about the truth
of human sexuality which has already wrought such terrible harm to
individuals and families and to our society has to be stopped.
Encourage The Young
Q. To close, what have you observed in your travels throughout the world that gives you the greatest reason for hope?
A.
The greatest sign of hope for me is the young people I meet who believe
more than my generation and recognize how bankrupt our culture is and
want the truth. They realize that this whole bill of goods we have been
sold with regard to abortion, same- sex unions, and so forth is
ultimately destructive. So I would say that is the greatest single cause
for hope.
But these young people need
the encouragement of those of us who are older. They need to have the
wisdom from those of the older generation who have valiantly fought the
battle for the truth, for what is truly charitable because it is true
and in accord with God's law. Those of us who are older should take
great encouragement; at the same time, we must invest ourselves in
communicating with the younger generation and helping them to build a
better future.
I think of the little
ones who are growing up now my great- nieces and nephews and I am
sometimes filled with much sadness because I see their parents work so
hard to raise them in a truly Christian home and are adhering to the
truths of the Faith and practicing their faith. But the world which they
will enter as adults, if they are going to remain true to their faith,
will require them to be courageously strong.
