Cardinal Burke calls on faithful Catholics to stay and fight

"If everyone left, the Church would otherwise fall into the hands of those who destroy the Catholic faith and its practice": US Cardinal Raymond Burke advises "good Catholics" to stay in their Church and fight for the truth of the faith.

US Cardinal and Pope critic Raymond Burke advises "good Catholics" to stay in their Church and fight for the truth of the faith. "If everyone leaves, the Church would otherwise fall into the hands of those who destroy the Catholic faith and its practice," Burke said in an interview with the weekly newspaper "Die Tagespost" published in Würzburg. Christ had promised to always remain "with us". One remains with Christ, even if one has to speak "very openly" with one's own bishops if they propose something that does not correspond to the Catholic faith.

To describe loyalty to the Catholic Church as rigidity is simply wrong, the Cardinal explained. Rather, he said, the faithful have the right and the duty to make known their concerns about the Church. "In cases where the faith is betrayed even within the Church itself, it is even more important for them to insist on Catholic teaching and practice." Obedience can never command one to do something that is against the faith and good morals, he said.

Use means of communication "to spread the message"

Burke advised disaffected Catholics to use the means of communication above all "to spread the message and, for example, to publish the classic expositions of the Catholic faith". The spectrum, he said, ranges from the Church Fathers and the great theologians to "reliable authors of the present day". The faithful should insist on talking to their parish priest about these topics, the 74-year-old advised.

Burke was prefect of the Apostolic Signature, the highest court of the Roman Curia, from 2008 to 2014. He has been Cardinal Patron of the Order of Malta since 2014.

Source