Congratulations to Archbishop Burke.

We were very lucky to have him lead us with a steady hand faithful to the teachings and laws of the Church.

I’m sure he will be a terrific “Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature.”

Thank you Archbishop Burke for your service here. May Our Lord bless you for your courage and faithfulness.

and May Our Lord send us another holy shepherd for His flock here in the St. Louis Archdiocese.

Good riddance. It’s better Burke goes back to the Vatican where they don’t exercise freedom of religion, rather than stay in the USA where we do. His meddling in politics, like Falwell, Robertson, Dobson, and the others, is a huge part of what gives Christianity a bad name and is leading to its destruction in our country. Well, that and its refusal to face the facts of science. Goodbye and hope to not see you later.

The people writing in support of Burke are living under a rock. Wake up, weirdos. There is a reason most people in STL couldn’t stand Burke. He did more to single-handedly damage this community’s spiritual cohesiveness than any person in the past five decades. You say Burke “speaks the truth…” blah blah blah. What religion doesn’t think they stand for truth. I take comfort in knowing that I live my life as a compassionate, kind and respecful secular humanist. I take even more comfort in knowing that the hypocritical and egocentric reign of Raymond Burke in my city has come to an end. Perhaps now St. Louis can heal.

As as life long Catholic, I’ve done my best to follow the Church’s teaching even in when it’s been difficult or required sacrifices. Archbishop Burke’s tenure in Saint Louis shook my faith and sorely tested it. Clearly, his glaringly obvious lack of interpersonal skills, inability to see or appreciate any point of view different from his own, and shallow sense of compassion caused mostly harm and did little good.

What we need is pastor who leads by example and who understands what the words “charity,” “mercy,” and “empathy” truly mean. Further, we need to pray for Archbishop Burke himself; hopefully, he will receive the grace and courage to look at the profound damage he’s done and ask for forgiveness.

Good lawyer, lousy shepard. This may be a position he can excel in. He couldn’t do much worse than the PR disasters he created here.

Whomever we get some won’t like him either. Burke approached what needed to be done with law, some do it with other means. I wonder if the big givers didn’t scream loudly to the apostolic nuncio and he is being moved to appease the big givers and to put him where he will excel. It’s odd to only have an archbishop here 4.5 years. Hmmm. If people really knew all that goes on behind the scenes of the Catholic church locally and globally people would find it hard to believe. A new archbishop will have a different flavor but nothing behind the scenes will really change. As a priest I know. Much of what the every day Catholic sees is smoke and mirrors. At my age I don’t care who we get. Same circus just different clowns.

Boy!! after reading all of this, I’m sure glad that I don’t have ties to the catholic church. It is plain to see that all of the so called good catholics are praying to the wrong place. God is in control of a religious persons life , not the church or anyone that represents it. Praying to a church will get you know where. You have to pray to God. If you all really believe that the church is your ticket to salvation, you are doomed to you know where. This Burke was and is an idiot and anyone that is praying for him falls into the same category. He’s just a man for God’s sake. He can do nothing for you. Has anyone actually given any thought to the fact that the real God has given you the choice to make decisions on your own. I for one am glad he’s gone because it’s getting old hearing about him.

“I take comfort in knowing that I live my life as a compassionate, kind and respecful secular humanist”

Then your opinion on catholic or religious matters means nothing

I personally am glad to see him go. Though many may think this man has done God’s work by closing down churches, excommunicating priests and with holding the sacraments from parish members due to controversy over St Stans he hasnt. Let Rome deal with him. Finally some good news coming out of the Vatican. Way to go Benny!

I am so amazed at all the good, christian souls who have decided to comment on this blog today! It was written somewhere, (I don’t recall where, but I think it’s a quote from someone quite famous) about blessed are you, when men hate you and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice and leap for joy, for, behold, your reward is great in heaven because in like manner did their fathers do unto the prophets.
I also have heard it said, probably from my mom, to be careful what you wish for. Who knows, all of you in St. Louis might get an even better bishop than Burke, one more Catholic, holier, and even stronger in the Faith than he. Hard to imagine, but I could name a few. And that would be a great joy indeed.
God Bless [soon-to-be Cardinal] Burke.