This is a most recent development following the shameful proceedings and the resultant publication of the first week’s Relatio on the Synod of the Family. The article is from the Jóse Sarto blog, Página Católica posted a couple of hours ago. (The translation is ours.):
Our readers know that Cardinal Burke was in Vienna where he should have celebrated two Masses according to the extraordinary Roman rite, one of which he could not celebrate as we reported in this blog.
In the context of his visit, he made important statements, which coming from the mouth of so high a Cardinal, are a balm for our souls which are downcast in the desolation caused by the conduct of the one who occupies the Sede Romana.
Here are the news that Gloria TV brings, with our translation:
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Burke: “We act as if we were creating the Church out of nothing.”
This past November 4, in Vienna, Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke during a meeting organized by Una Voce Austria, presented the German edition of the book, Remaining in the Truth of Christ, a book comprised of articles from 5 Cardinals.
During his presentation, Cardinal Burke explained that the book is a response to the idea of Cardinal Walter Kasper who “argued in favor of a change in what has been the teaching and the constant practice of the Church” with respect to marriage. Burke said Kasper called for dialogue, and the five Cardinals have responded with the presentation of well founded studies.
At the Synod of the family, Cardinal Burke saw “the almost complete neglect of the Magisterium”. It was as if the Church had dealt with, and taught for the first time, regarding marriage, when in fact she has, both in her doctrine as well as in her discipline, one of the richest appreciations of marriage to be found.” In this context, the Cardinal mentioned “Familiaris Consortio” of Juan Pablo II, “Humanae Vitae” of Pablo VI, and “Casti Connubii” of Pius XI.
Burke reminded his audience that the Church has two thousand years of tradition: “Today we act as if we were creating the Church out of nothing.”
The “Relatio Post Disceptationem” of the Synod, is for Burke “one of the most unfortunate documents that could ever be imagined coming from the Church: many of us were horrified with the idea expressed in this document by which, in some manner, there could be good elements in mortally sinful acts. This is impossible.”
Furthermore, Cardinal Burke criticized the rupture between doctrine and practice: “One of the most insidious ideas in the presentation of Cardinal Kasper and in the discussions of the Synod, is that: ‘Yes, we confirm the doctrine of the Church in relation to the indissolubility of marriage.’ Even saying: ‘Who might question the doctrine of the indissolubility of marriage? We are talking about a matter of discipline.’ In other words: marriage is indissoluble; we believe in this. But, in certain cases, when a person is married before God, but the marriage, for one reason or another, has failed, (without any mention of who might be culpable), and this person has knowingly and voluntarily attempted another “marriage” and lives with someone who is not a legitimate spouse… In some of these cases, we can remove the indissolubility of the marriage, and admit those persons to the sacrament of Confession and of Holy Communion.”
“This idea”, stressed Cardinal Burke, “is a denial of the indissolubility of marriage. When one confesses a sin, he must have the firm purpose of amendment, otherwise he does not make a valid confession. How can a person who is living in an adulterous union confess this when he intends to remain in that situation? These are indisputable facts.”
The cardinal explained very clearly: “The discipline of the Church can never be unfaithful to doctrine.”
“Any kind of discussion that attempts to say that the Church can maintain her teaching on the indissolubility of marriage and, at the same time, to deny this truth in practice, is simply not Catholic. It does not work. It is not acceptable.”
Cardinal Burke mentioned one of the bones of contention at the Synod: “The culture has changed so radically that we cannot teach as we did in the past.” This, for him, is to “lose hope and faith in Jesus Christ“.
First as a priest and then as Bishop, and according to his own words, Burke has known many couples living in the truth of matrimony, even against the prevailing culture which is a very secularized society. “But this is completely forgotten. Yes, the culture is very corrupted. Nobody denies it. But we must not retreat behind this reality, but instead, give to the culture that which can save it.“
