Archbishop Rips Rick Majerus for Support of Abortion Rights, Stem Cell Research

[Mirror_Mirror]

As one from St. Louis let me clarify a few points that I believe are leading to confusion.

First the Archibishop does not have control over St. Louis University. Jesuits priest are now less than 3% of the faculty and Catholic students are less than 50%. The reason the Catholic student population is as high as it is is because St. Louis is a very Catholic city. It is not because St. Louis University is a Catholic University as it is not. St. Louis University is run by a lay board from many different religious denominations. I doubt that Father Biondi, that is in charge of the school, will side with the Archibishop as the lay board will not side with the Archbishop. I am hopeful that Father Biondi will follow the teachings of Christ and challenge the lay board and Mr. Majerus.

Note Archbishop Justin Rigali had similar issues with St. Louis University when he was the Archbishop of St. Louis a few years ago. So is it really Archibishop Burke’s issues or is it St. Louis University not following the teachings of Christ.

Note the school now gets federal fundings and has basically renounced it Catholic heritage. It is Catholic in name only. The University professor’s, which as stated are only 3% Jesuit, are daily attacking the Archbishop very similarly to what the professors did to Pope Benedict in Italy.

The St. Louis Post Dispatch is daily attacking the Archibishop not only in the editorial page but also in the sport section. As most papers, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is only concerned with the right of free speech and not with ones enternal soul.

Mr. Majerus has created a very big stir in the community by publicly attacking his faith and the Archbishop. To paraphrase his interview in the St. Louis Post Dispatch he stated that his Jesuit teaching at Marquette taught him to think for himself and the Archbishop’s comments will not change his opinion. Note that he does not understand that it is not the Archibishop’s opinion. It is the Catholic Faith’s teachings given to us by Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Archbishop Burke spoke openly about the teaching of the Faith and how Mr. Majerus actions are Scandlous. The St. Louis media, even in a very Catholic city, is openly against Catholicism. It is not just against Archbishop Burke. It has repeatdely attacked the teachings of the Church.

For those outside of St. Louis make no mistake Mr. Majerus created scandal and now the St. Louis Media is unmercilessly attacking our faith. This is not about Archibishop Burke making any comments that were rude or inaccruate. This is about a high profile Jesuit taught coach not understanding the faith and being used by the media to attack our faith.

As stated many times the last allowed prejudice in the United State is against Catholicism. Even in a Catholic dominate city our faith is being attacked. We need to be ever vigilante in supporting our faith and the leaders of our Church. Remember in the last hours of Christ’s life the apostles fell asleep; while Judas and evil worked on tirelessly. Souls are at stake. Support the Archibishop and the Faith!

Very well put! I agree 110%!!

 

[Netty313]

First of all, the Catholic Church is perhaps the only Christian church that has definite views of right and wrong, good and evil. This is why the media takes so many shots at it, because Catholicism still stands for something. Rick has a right as an American to say these things, but not as a Catholic. Rick is free to choose another anything-goes type church (Unitarianism anyone?), but these beliefs disqualify him from calling himself a Roman Catholic. Furthermore, he IS in a high-profile position at a Catholic university, and to go against Catholic teaching as a head coach of a Jesuit university, ups the ante considerably. As Lenny Wilkens (a truly strong Catholic and African American coach) once said, “Everyone is a role model to someone!” As fightingirishthomas.net/2008/01/archbishop-burke-and-pro-choice.html further explains, Rick (unless he repents), should be disposed of as coach and role model at Catholic St. Louis University.

 

[KathleenElsie]

1.) Why am I not surprised its a Jesuit university.
2.) don’t you know that our rights to free speech is if it agrees to other people opinions
3.) I love this Bishop. he gives me such hope.

Here is the espn link.
sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3210049

Didn’t the Pope just tell the Jesuits to return to basic beliefs of the Catholic church?

It is only free speech if it supports the secular liberal opinion.

Please send this Bishop to PA we could really use him. We just need him on loan ( honest we will send him back).

 

[fix]

This particular archbishop has zero skill in dealing with these matters.

You say this because he does not act as you want?

He knows as well as you and I do that he has no canonical authority over Saint Louis University…and less control over their athletic department.

Does that mean he has no responsibility in the matter?

So he makes a sweeping statement that makes people in forums like this one stand up and cheer as though he has made even one iota of progress in changing a heart or a mind on the issue of abortion.

If not for men like him we would hear almost nothing of the truth. Lack of men like him are why we are in the mess we are in right now.

Do you think the way this has been handled will change how coach majerus approaches the issue? doubtful.

Would he change if nothing were said? What about all the pople who would have heard that man without correction by the bishop? Are they not entitled to hear a correction?

Does it serve to make the archbishop look like a radio shock jock with a crozier? Absolutely.

That is unfair. He did not act like a shock jock. Perhaps we have beome too sensitive in this culture. We only want the truth if it does not mean changing what we believe or how we act.

 

[WanderAimlessly]

Please send this Bishop to PA we could really use him. We just need him on loan ( honest we will send him back).

I do not think Rome will send Archbishop Burke to a backwater diocese like Greensburg (mind you I am saying this because it can be considered my hometown diocese )

Saying that, Archbishop Burke can make it very difficult for the Jesuits and SLU by:

1. 
   *]Suspending all faculties of the Jesuits assiciated with the university to operate in the Archdiocese.
   *]Revoking SLU’s (even temporarily) Catholic identity

 

[Faithful2]

This issue (Archbishop Burke rips Majerus) is also the topic in a Wisconsin State Journal forum where a reporter criticised the Archbishop for his position. See madison.com/wsj/forums/viewtopic.php?p=333635#333635

:bigyikes:

The latest post in the thread (by " richeggleston ") really rips into Catholics pretty malevolently – I guess we are one of the few remaining groups that it’s politically acceptable to ridicule and not to tolerate!

.

 

[KathleenElsie]

I do not think Rome will send Archbishop Burke to a backwater diocese like Greensburg (mind you I am saying this because it can be considered my hometown diocese )

Saying that, Archbishop Burke can make it very difficult for the Jesuits and SLU by:

1. 
   *]Suspending all faculties of the Jesuits assiciated with the university to operate in the Archdiocese.
   *]Revoking SLU’s (even temporarily) Catholic identity

1. 
   LOL backwater? Hay we don’t have much water here but we are in the sticks .
   
   I just pray that the two Bishops near us will also get on the ball and get the “Catholic” universities under control.

 

[manualman]

Frommi’s point deserves consideration and discussion. He basically is arguing that the bishop is being blunt and dogmatic and that this approach is not as effective in glorifying Christ as something more diplomatic and urbane would be.

Perhaps frommi feels that the Vatican ought to screen bishop candidates to ensure that they are politically savvy and able to foresee the way media portrays public figures and consider that in their pastoral approach instead of selecting priests who have the public relations skills of a blue-collar fisherman…

 

[WanderAimlessly]

Frommi’s point deserves consideration and discussion. He basically is arguing that the bishop is being blunt and dogmatic and that this approach is not as effective in glorifying Christ as something more diplomatic and urbane would be.

Perhaps frommi feels that the Vatican ought to screen bishop candidates to ensure that they are politically savvy and able to foresee the way media portrays public figures and consider that in their pastoral approach instead of selecting priests who have the public relations skills of a blue-collar fisherman…

Sometime you need to throw “diplomacy” and “politics” out the window.

 

[Kevirish01]

“Perhaps frommi feels that the Vatican ought to screen bishop candidates to ensure that they are politically savvy and able to foresee the way media portrays public figures and consider that in their pastoral approach instead of selecting priests who have the public relations skills of a blue-collar fisherman…”

You mean, like this blue-collar fisherman?

*“Therefore let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.” *
*Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?” *
Peter (said) to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:36-38)

*“There were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will introduce destructive heresies and even deny the Master who ransomed them, bringing swift destruction on themselves. *
*Many will follow their licentious ways, and because of them the way of truth will be reviled. *
*In their greed they will exploit you with fabrications, but from of old their condemnation has not been idle and their destruction does not sleep.” (2 Peter 2:1-3) *

Ah yes, I just **love **blue-collar fishermen!

 

[manualman]

Sometime you need to throw “diplomacy” and “politics” out the window.

Kevirish got it…

 

[qui_est_ce]

First the Archibishop does not have control over St. Louis University. Jesuits priest are now less than 3% of the faculty and Catholic students are less than 50%. The reason the Catholic student population is as high as it is is because St. Louis is a very Catholic city. It is not because St. Louis University is a Catholic University as it is not. St. Louis University is run by a lay board from many different religious denominations. I doubt that Father Biondi, that is in charge of the school, will side with the Archibishop as the lay board will not side with the Archbishop. I am hopeful that Father Biondi will follow the teachings of Christ and challenge the lay board and Mr. Majerus.

Note the school now gets federal fundings and has basically renounced it Catholic heritage. It is Catholic in name only. The University professor’s, which as stated are only 3% Jesuit, are daily attacking the Archbishop very similarly to what the professors did to Pope Benedict in Italy.

You left out the best part. Fr. Biondi successfully argued to the City of St. Louis that St. Louis University is not a Catholic school so that it could get TIF (Tax Incremental Financing) for it’s new Stadium (presumably they will be playing basketball There). SLU basketball is BIG here, and I don’t even follow sports. It sold it’s soul for a basketball stadium.

The St. Louis Post Dispatch is daily attacking the Archibishop not only in the editorial page but also in the sport section. As most papers,

I would go one step further and suggest the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is salivating for every niblet it gets on the Catholic Church. ANYTIME there is anything they can use to push their ant-Catholic agenda, it is on the front page. Underneath the articles are usually pictures and quotes of “Catholics” who oppose the Archbishop.

Two weeks ago, there was an article on the front page about how Bishop Braxton of the Belleville Diocese (across the river from St. Louis) spent money. Buried on page 5 of the Metro section was an article about sexual abuse by a deacon in a Protestant Church.

I graduated from St. Louis University in the '70’s and got great Theology and Philosophy. I am embarrassed that our St. Louisans are not more vocal in supporting our Archbishop Burke and our Holy Catholic Church.

I am embarrassed by the poor standards of reporting in our one major newspaper.

 

[zagjames]

I am embarrassed by the poor standards of reporting in our one major newspaper.

You know its too bad the national catholic publications dont still have the kinds of compititions that had in the past, where they would give a time period and during that time whoever could find the most anti-catholic news article and write 100 words on how bad it was and send it in would win $100. That would be a sweet compitition. If things like that were still around we all could make more money then we would know what to do with. And it would pressure news magazines and papers to tone down the anti-catholic bias. Making money and making america catholic friendly, I see no negatives. (protestants may think we are trying to opress them… but hey small penalty, and they can have their misconceptions, and we can have our truth, if they want it we will be waiting patiently by the metaphorical phone for their call)

Sorry for my little tangent.

 

[Netty313]

You know its too bad the national catholic publications dont still have the kinds of compititions that had in the past, where they would give a time period and during that time whoever could find the most anti-catholic news article and write 100 words on how bad it was and send it in would win $100. That would be a sweet compitition. If things like that were still around we all could make more money then we would know what to do with. And it would pressure news magazines and papers to tone down the anti-catholic bias. Making money and making america catholic friendly, I see no negatives. (protestants may think we are trying to opress them… but hey small penalty, and they can have their misconceptions, and we can have our truth, if they want it we will be waiting patiently by the metaphorical phone for their call)

Sorry for my little tangent.

Zagjames … although we cannot pay $100 (or anything for that matter) to “the winner,” we DO post articles on our site that deal with anti-catholicism … you only need to submit your post to us by e-mail. Check out our site Friends of Fighting Irish Thomas.

 

[qui_est_ce]

. (protestants may think we are trying to opress them…

I don’t think that Protestants will feel oppressed. Many have expressed their admiration of Archbishop Burke to me. They are equally embarrassed by the blatant personal attacks on him, as well as the use of ignorant Catholics to “substantiate” the newspaper’s position.

In fact, I believe it will be the “Cafeteria” Catholics who will feel oppressed. My Protestant friends are confused that people claim to be Catholic, yet reject the teachings of the Church or think they can be bent. This is why it is so important for the Archbishop to speak up.

In the four years Archbishop Burke has had had several scandals/excommunications thrown at him:

-St. Stanlaus Kostka Church,** run by a lay board**, refused to comply with Archdiocesan regulations, told their pastor he was under the board’s jurisdiction, and accused the Archbishop of trying to steal their money. When the Archbishop removed the priest because this and other irregularities, the board hired a priest from another diocese without that bishops approval. All were warned they would be Excommunicated. They said, in essence, “Bring it on,” with press conferences. Now the excommunicated bemoan they can’t have “Catholic” burial.

-A local Catholic hospital, on which board the Archbishop sat, hired Cheryl Crow, who had come to Missouri to publicly lobby for a law to approve of embryonic stem cell research, to sing for a fundraiser. The Archbishop resigned from the board, and was blasted for not caring about cures for people with disabilities.

-We have had two Womenpriests ordained here in November at a Jewish Synagogue. The press turned the whole thing into a women’s rights interdenominational “tolerance” issue. The women who were “ordained” were portrayed as elderly, widowed, faithful Catholics, which has nothing to do with their blatant and public denunciation of the teachings of the Church.

These and other situations are so ridiculous, it make me wonder if they are not fabricated for the express purpose to undermine the Catholic Church. (Old Red Legs perhaps)?

frommi:

The reality is that Ray Burke has never met a microphone he didn’t like.

You are quite judgmental here. It is the press that is hounding him. From my personal observations, Archbishop Burke is an extremely reverent and humble man. He is also one of the most brilliant Canon lawyers in the US.

frommi:

Could he have possibly gone to the school first to see it addressed before shooting his mouth off to a tv station hundreds of miles away from where it happened?

Do you know that he hasn’t?

frommi:

You’re talking about a bishop with a pattern of shooting his mouth off at inopportune times in ways that do not bring anyone back to the flock.

This is a blatant mis-characterization of the Archbishop. I am personally involved in RCIA, and have worked with several Catholics who came back to the flock. Do you know that before Burke, there were years when NO priests were ordained in the entire Archdiocese? The other years, between one and three were ordained. This year, the Seminary has 111 students, an almost 50% increase in ONE YEAR.

 

[zagjames]

Quote:
Originally Posted by zagjames
. (protestants may think we are trying to opress them…

I don’t think that Protestants will feel oppressed. Many have expressed their admiration of Archbishop Burke to me. They are equally embarrassed by the blatant personal attacks on him, as well as the use of ignorant Catholics to “substantiate” the newspaper’s position.

In fact, I believe it will be the “Cafeteria” Catholics who will feel oppressed. My Protestant friends are confused that people claim to be Catholic, yet reject the teachings of the Church or think they can be bent. This is why it is so important for the Archbishop to speak up.

I actually was refering too the way protestants reacted when Catholics laid it on heavy to the media in the 30’s 40’s and the media in many areas aquised. (spelling?) I was saying if Catholics again pressured the media in this way protestants would claim Catholic were trying to opress society.

But you make a very good point as well.