Lately I have seen a number of posts and essays expressing disappointment in Cardinal Burke. He's a nice man but he's not coming to save traditional Catholics. I'm not doubting his piety in any way, but he's timid. Maybe he always was. Maybe, the only reason he was able to get the nerve to put forth the Dubia was because the other cardinals were standing with him. On top of that, his judgment isn't always the greatest. Remember all those rumors about him backing a nun who turned out to be a man? When I first heard that story I thought it had to be a lie... and then it turned out to be true and incredibly embarrassing.
When Pope Francis mocked him as he lay hospitalized and later threatened to throw him out of his retirement apartment in Rome that seems to have terrified the poor man. Although I was certain that American Catholics, if no-one else, would not have allowed him to be put out on the street and later heard Anne Barnhardt report that people immediately told the cardinal that his rent would be covered by them for the rest of his life, he reacted with even greater tremulousness than before.
I'm not being mean when I say that I don't think he's made of the same stuff as St. John Fisher or St. Athanasius. I'm not mad at him. He's old and some old men become fearful in their great age. I had a relative who in the last decade of his life became a hoarder and reclusive, only going out when he had to because he was unable to cope with age, sickness and a the loss of control over his family. It should also be remembered that many priests all over the world, much younger than Cardinal Burke admit that they feel as though they've endured PTSD under the reign of Francis. Sure, I'd like him to stand up and start preaching like a lion but he's not that guy. He's not coming to save the Faith as practiced by traditional Catholics. Burke will get a Mass at St. Peter's in October. It will be lovely. Trad Inc. will trot out that "were back," nonsense and Michael Matt, bless his heart will get all red in the face with excitement while bellowing, "Unite the clans!". Soon afterwards Fr. Martin will either get another visit to the Vatican or there will be another event for those who are living in sexual sin.
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