I am sure this is just another translation issue where the obvious interpretation is a complete overreaction. Right?
Pope Francis has dropped Raymond Cardinal Burke from the Congregation of Bishops in favor of Cardinal Wuerl.
Cardinal Wuerl.
The Pope also dropped a number of other Bishops close to Pope Benedict.
Nothing to see here folks, move along.
Today the calculus of the “Top Four” list changed, perhaps decisively, as Francis dropped Burke from the Congregation for Bishops and added Wuerl. The two cardinals are not known to be allies, to say the least. It’s even less likely now that they’ll be exchanging Christmas cards this year.
Wuerl will remain as Archbishop of Washington but the new appointment means he will make regular trips to the Vatican to vet candidates for bishop in the U.S. and around the world — perhaps the most important way that Francis can secure his legacy.
Those looking for more pastorally-inclined bishops will likely take heart in Wuerl’s advance and Burke’s retreat. But Francis also dropped from the Congregation two other cardinals, both Italians, considered allies of Benedict XVI — Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, 69, described by one Vatican-watcher as “one of the former pope’s most conservative appointments in the Roman Curia,” and Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, 70.
– See more at: http://davidgibson.religionnews.com/2013/12/16/rome-american-rises-another-american-fades/#sthash.aEnJCMdo.dpuf
December 16, 2013 at 3:40 pm
Deeply concerned for what this means for the selection of future bishops in the US. Burke, Piacenza and Bagnasco out of favor and Wuerl in? Very bad news for the future.
December 16, 2013 at 4:07 pm
Oh my God. I have to reinforce my prayers.
December 16, 2013 at 4:08 pm
Living in the UK, to be frank, the appointment of Archbishop Nichols to the Congregation of Bishops is not encouraging news.
Cardinal Burke is a faithful and courageous servant of Christ, if only we had more clergymen and Cardinals like him. Make sure you check out his interview on EWTN from last week.
On a more positive note, Cardinal Ouellet was confirmed as Prefect. I think he is excellent.
December 16, 2013 at 4:57 pm
Archbishop NICHOLS????? Huh? Ouellet is good though. I can't fathom Wuerl.
December 16, 2013 at 6:13 pm
Card. Weurl speaks Spanish.
December 16, 2013 at 6:25 pm
so he can recommend appeasers in Spanish… fantastic
December 16, 2013 at 10:08 pm
I am not really surprised by this turn of events. Remember what the slogan was last March Continuity with Benedict. UH NO. It is very clear that Francis who was considered the alternative to Benedict in 2005 is still the alternative to Benedict now. He dislikes all Conservatives and won't work with them too.
December 17, 2013 at 2:15 am
Bring back the felt banners…
December 18, 2013 at 3:43 am
I am very disappointed with this Pope. He should be fighting the homosexual lobby in the Vatican, not taking down your faithful and conservative leaders.
December 18, 2013 at 2:20 pm
My Eastern Orthodox relatives would probably say this is the problem with having one man who is very much in charge. On the other hand, they have been trying to arrange a"pan-Orthodox synod" forever, but without success, because no one man among them is in charge.
God knows we need the Petrine Office, it holds us together and makes possible an order Christ desires for his Church. However, in anything delegated to human beings there is danger. One could argue for example that by lowering the age of first communion Pope St. Pius X threw off the ancient order of the sacraments of initiation for Latin Rite Catholics. Certainly Pope Paul VI introduced changes in the LRs liturgy that don't seem particularly organic. Such dangers and headaches are the price we pay for adhering to the all too human Vicars of Christ.