06.27.2008 7:46 am
Burke leaving St. Louis for Rome; what’s next for the local Catholic church?
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
After a relatively brief, and somewhat stormy tenure as archbishop of the Catholic church in St. Louis, Raymond Burke is leaving. He’s expected to remain until a bit later in the summer, when he moves to Rome for his position as “Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature.”
Burke’s time in St. Louis has been marked by a number of controversies. He has condemned the ordination of “women priests” by another faith community. He has been in a battle over control of St. Stanislaus Church in St. Louis. He said he would not offer communion to politicians who do not stand by Catholic church doctrine.
What does his departure mean for the church here now? What are the qualities you’d like to see in his successor?
Kurt is the director of social media for the Post-Dispatch, where he has worked since August 2002. He's been a journalist since 1982, covering municipal government, courts, education and two hurricanes as a reporter before becoming an editor. 
It is a sad day for St. Louis to lose our good and holy Archbishop, but great for Holy Mother Church. Please pray for Archbishop Burke as he takes his new position in Rome. Also, pray that his successor upholds the standards that Archbishop Burke has set and continues to show strong leadership for our Church here in St. Louis. God bless Archbishop Burke! Deo Gratias!
This is a good thing for the Church in general but very sad for St. Louis. It was wonderful to have an archbishop who stood up for what is right. I would be ashamed to have a leader here who thought nothing of giving Communion to those who publicly advocate abortion, all in the name of good “PR.” The Catholic faith is not about PR! It does not “condemn” anyone, but offer grace and mercy to those who desire it. If some of these cafeteria Catholics want to go somewhere where any and all behavior is acceptable, they are free to do so. I hope Archbishop Burke’s successor will be as holy and devout as he is.
On some church issues I think he went overboard. Yet, technically he was absolutely correct. He didn’t have a diplomatic way about him. He acted just like a lawyer. Bad for a Archdiocese Bishop to act like a lawyer. Let the lawyers be lawyers.
This Archdiochese needs a healer right now. Bring back St. Stanislaus into the fold and slowly work to regain control of the parrish. Not necessarily to own it like Burke wanted, but to use it to the Archdiocese advantage as all parrishes should be used for the better good of all Catholic parrishes.
Burke seems money hungry too. The new bishop needs to work on unifiy the churches before reaching into the parishiners pockets. Money will come as church goers see a new path of communication being established between parrish members and the archbishop.
I think this is clearly a move by the Vatican to remove a negative element from the archdiocese and repair the damage he’s (Burke) has done.
This is such a sad day for the ArchDiocese of St. Louis…the ArchBishop was a good and Holy man, not a PR expert. He didn’t compromise the teachings of Christ to be PC, he didn’t water teaching down for the low morals of the flock in his diocese, he instead challenged the faithful to live up to their faith.
I pray that the Holy Father replaces the ArchBishop with someone who is as Holy and strong of a shepherd as we have been blessed to have had for the past five years.
Thank you and good luck in your new assignment ArchBishop Burke!!!
I find it odd that we catholics are “ashamed” of a candidate that is pro-choice, yet we see no problem with voting for a candidate that has invaded another nation resulting in over 100,000 dead and maimed.
Someone with a little (no, a lot) more compassion. Someone who is able to compromise and not bully people. At this point, just about anyone else would look better than what we’ve had. I guess his heart is in the right place but he just does not know how to work and play well with others.
To PBR:
RONALD REAGON?
The pope is a NAZI?
Wow, your hatred is really miss guided. Reagon will go down as one of our most beloved and successfull presidents. The holy father is NO NAZI. FACT.
Please guide your hatred to our enemies and the devil.
Jesus warned that the world would hate those who would follow him. Judging from the comments here, it seems our archbishop was doing a pretty good job. Those who have written such ugly things about him abviously never got to know the man. St. Louis is losing a wise and good pastor. May we receive our next Archbishop with more respect and love.
I’m sure the media will be finding all the wrong people (Catholics who reject the teachings of the Church) to talk to about this, so let us pray too for the Archbishop as he endures the venom, the ingratitude, the glee over his departure that will now undoubtedly come his way.
It is never easy to stand up for what you know is right. Our beloved Archbishop has shown us the strength and leadership to not only proclaim but live a holy life, regardless of the personal toll. In today’s world where everything is geared towards pleasing the senses, materialism and comfort it takes a strong spiritual leader to show his flock the true meaning of putting one’s spoken beliefs into practice. God bless Archbishop Burke in his new position and send us another strong and selfless leader.