Archbishop Burke says Democrats may become “party of death”
In comments published over the weekend in a daily Catholic newspaper sponsored by the Italian bishops’ conference, former St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke said the Democratic Party “risks transforming itself definitively into a ‘party of death.’”
According to a Catholic New Service story, Burke - now the head of the Vatican’s version of the supreme court - was told that musician Sheryl Crow played at the Democratic National Convention last month.
“That does not surprise me much,” the archbishop said. “At this point the Democratic Party risks transforming itself definitely into a ‘party of death’ because of its choices on bioethical questions as Ramesh Ponnuru wrote in his book, ‘The Party of Death: The Democrats, the Media, the Courts and the Disregard for Human Life.’”
Archbishop Burke said the Democratic Party once was “the party that helped our immigrant parents and grandparents better integrate and prosper in American society. But it is not the same anymore.”
Pro-life Democrats are “rare, unfortunately,” he said.
In 2007, Burke resigned from the foundation board at the Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center after the rest of the foundation’s board refused to replace Sheryl Crow as the musical headliner benefiting the hospital’s Bob Costas Cancer Center. Crow is a supporter of embryonic stem cell research, which the Catholic church considers akin to abortion.
The newspaper also asked Burke “for his reaction to reports that his Vatican job was designed to get him away from St. Louis.”
“I have too much respect for the pope to believe that in order to move someone away from a diocese he would nominate him to a very sensitive dicastery like this one,” said the archbishop…”
Tim Townsend has been the religion reporter at the Post-Dispatch since June 2004. He previously covered personal finance and consumer news for The Wall Street Journal. He holds master's degrees from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and Yale Divinity School. In 2005 he won the Templeton Religion Reporter of the Year Award, given by the Religion Newswriters Association. 
Although I understand people’s disagreements with Burke, I feel that it is wrong for the entire Catholic Church to be criticized as being “full of themselves.” The Catholic Church in America and throughout the world is responsible for charity work that benefits all people, regardless of their race, ethnicity or creed. I think the criticism of the Church as a whole, which is specifically directed to its members, is unfounded. Burke, just like any other person, is entitled to his views just as you and me are entitled to our views.
My husband is a pro-life Democrat…so yes, they do exist.
Republican George W. Bush presided over how many executions while governor of the state of Texas? In addition to the thousands of lives lost for his oil war? And he is pro-life? What kind of logic is that?
How many executions has the Archbishop protested in the past month, year, decade?
Nice comments…They are extremely lame, have no point or meaning, and way off base. Especially the one that says “Save the children, just kill them when they are 18″. Seriously, I am not pro-war, but no one twists these “Children’s” arms to join the army, they sign up for a reason, and if they never go to war, then why even have an ARMY or any Militia for that matter. Lets just dis-member our entire military and have no line of defense. That is basically what you are arguing.
Burke is absolutely right by the way. Democrats are stupid enough to want to vote for Obama, they might as well be voting to for death to the United States. Anyone who thinks Obama will keep us safe is just plain out of their minds. He thinks people who disagree (Russia/Georgia) should “Just be nice to eachother.” Exactly the statement I want a potential president to say when his opinion really matters…. Get real. I Realize what anyone says on here means nothing because you will all say and think and vote the way you want. I just wanted you all to realize how insane you are though.
Yea, cause Burke has been quoted as saying its okay to molest parishoners!? See just what I said, insane and stupid people.
“Party of Death?” Disregard for Human Life? War is not “Pro Life.”
Insofar as the current Democratic nominee for president voted against preserving the lives of infants who survived abortions, the Democrat Party became Infanticide at Prayer a long time ago.
The man is gone, he doesn’t live in the US, who cares what he thinks. He’s the Vatican’s problem now, not ours.
stick to your new job and leave st louis to its own business