Action Alert!
Catholic World News

Cardinal Maradiaga makes personal attack on Cardinal Burke

May 19, 2017

Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, the chairman of the Council of Cardinals, has launched a startling personal attack on Cardinal Raymond Burke, calling the American prelate “a poor man,” and saying that his thoughts “don’t merit further comment.”

The Honduran cardinal made a series of scathing comments about Cardinal Burke in a new book-length interview, published in Italy under the title Solo il Vangelo e rivoluzionario (“Only the Gospel Is Revolutionary). He charged that Cardinal Burke was creating dissent within the Church with his criticism of Amoris Laetitia.

“What sense does it have to publish writings against the Pope?” Cardinal Maradiaga asked. He said it was “completely clear” that ordinary Catholics support the Pontiff, but said that prelates who question the Pope’s teaching are responsible for “the disorientation that’s created among the people.”

Referring to Cardinal Burke as the sustaining force for the criticism of Amoris Laetitia, Cardinal Maradiaga said that his American colleague “is a disappointed man, in that he wanted power and lost it.” He said that while Pope Francis speaks for the whole Church, “this other speaks only his own thoughts, which don’t merit further comment.”

 


For all current news, visit our News home page.


 
Further information:
Sound Off! CatholicCulture.org supporters weigh in.

All comments are moderated. To lighten our editing burden, only current donors are allowed to Sound Off. If you are a current donor, log in to see the comment form; otherwise please support our work, and Sound Off!

  • Posted by: koinonia - May. 22, 2017 6:45 PM ET USA

    Archbishop Lefebvre wrote a book entitled: "They have Uncrowned Him." There are few prelates who point to the cross and affirm that He is King. There are those who do nothing. There are those who "uncrown" Him. "He charged that Cardinal Burke was creating dissent within the Church with his criticism of Amoris Laetitia." The concern here is not that Cardinal Maradiaga is making scurrilous charges. Rather it's that he is speaking the truth. And therein lies the absurd reality.

  • Posted by: unum - May. 20, 2017 9:07 AM ET USA

    The Cardinal sets a terrible example for the people of God regardless of his motivation and intent.

  • Posted by: jalsardl5053 - May. 20, 2017 1:52 AM ET USA

    “Even if we don’t all think the same way, we still have to be loyal to Peter.” Yes indeed dear Cardinal - just exactly what Cardinal Burke is doing. Apparently you need to listen to Pope Francis' attempt to distinguish doctrine from ideology. And yes, you get a giant Failure for trying to lay blame on someone else for someone else's actions AND lack thereof. Oh, BTW, you've set up Pope Francis to the challenge of handling YOUR accusations.

  • Posted by: [email protected] - May. 20, 2017 1:22 AM ET USA

    Another South American prelate whose pride is way ahead of his brain. He needs to look at the simple questions and ask why the Pope does not respond. There is much division but it is the Pope who is the creator of it. He has his minions to do his dirty work rather than answer. The prelate from Honduras is a prime example of the devil at work.

  • Posted by: Ken - May. 19, 2017 10:35 PM ET USA

    Progressives are as corrosive to the Church as they are to politics.

  • Posted by: - May. 19, 2017 9:38 PM ET USA

    I stand with Cardinals Burke and Sarah. It is not wrong to seek clarification on an important issue.

  • Posted by: grateful1 - May. 19, 2017 9:14 PM ET USA

    Cardinal Maradiaga's comments are scandalous, rash, calumnious, and hate-filled -- in short, sinful. They hurt my heart. If they do not also hurt Pope Francis's heart, then the Church is in a deeper crisis than I could ever have imagined.

  • Posted by: feedback - May. 19, 2017 8:58 PM ET USA

    The power of the Truth of the Gospel of Christ is the only kind of "power" worthy of pursuing by a Bishop of the Catholic Church. Cardinal Burke in his "Dubia" speaks for all Catholics who find AL potentiallycontradicting the Faith. Ironically, name-calling and personal attacks against Cardinal Burke only give further credence to his position.

  • Posted by: Louise01 - May. 19, 2017 8:49 PM ET USA

    Hmmm, in today's Gospel (Jn:15:12-17) Jesus says "Thus I command you love one another." I think Cardinal Maradiago needs to go to Confession -- maybe to Cardinal Burke.

  • Posted by: Faustina01 - May. 19, 2017 8:47 PM ET USA

    One can see that Cardinal Burke is a man in love with God; he is doctrinally, morally, and theologically cohesive. There is no duplicity in him. He is an intellectual powerhouse, and he is fast becoming a white martyr at the hands of his "fraternal brothers" in the hierarchy of the Church. To inform Maradiaga, who disappoints in his charity, this Pope does not speak for me. We would gladly have Cardinal Burke in this diocese in America...we are so very thankful for him.

  • Posted by: Faustina01 - May. 19, 2017 8:46 PM ET USA

    One can see that Cardinal Burke is a man in love with God; he is doctrinally, morally, and theologically cohesive. There is no duplicity in him. He is an intellectual powerhouse, and he is fast becoming a white martyr at the hands of his "fraternal brothers" in the hierarchy of the Church. To inform Maradiaga, who disappoints in his charity, this Pope does not speak for me. We would gladly have Cardinal Burke in this diocese in America...we are so very thankful for him.

  • Posted by: mwean7331 - May. 19, 2017 7:13 PM ET USA

    seems like it's the other way around Amoris caused the confusion and Cardinal Burke and others only ask for clarity which the Pope refuses to bestow. The Pope is still human can make errors. Amoris is not the only confusing statement the Pope has made (why does the Vatican always have to clarify what he states) the Church is in dangerous "waters"..As to Burke being "poor" Well Jesus did say "blessed are the poor in Spirit they shall see God. This there are

  • Posted by: Randal Mandock - May. 19, 2017 4:28 PM ET USA

    I hope, but doubt, that Pope Francis had Cdl. Maradiaga in mind when he condemned ideologues this morning. I read the cited article and came away with the sense that the Cardinal has publicly committed the scandalous sin of rash judgment, if not the sin of calumny: "he wanted power and lost it." "These currents of the Catholic right are persons who seek power and not the truth...Even if we don’t all think the same way, we still have to be loyal to Peter." These accusations are unfounded & evil.

  • Posted by: Retired01 - May. 19, 2017 2:48 PM ET USA

    The demonizing of those who want clarity continues. Has it been so long since the year of Mercy ended?