Pope Francis and His U.S. Opponents: A continual feud
Boy, this feud just won't quit.
The de facto leader of the opposition is the American Cardinal Raymond Burke, a legal expert in the church whose style and methods hark back to another era and whose views differ significantly from the traditionalist perspective. These viewpoints are intertwined. While Francis has focused on upholding the teachings and principles of the church, he's also sought to free it from certain practices he believes hinder its mission.
Those who speak out against Francis express concerns over his openness towards communion for divorced and remarried Catholics and his welcoming stance towards LGBTQ+ individuals through his priests. They're not fond of his focus on immigration and climate change either, and they yearn for a pope who will set the law and present the doctrine in black and white.
This pope promotes a humbler church, one that focuses on service and seeks to spread the Christian message around the world.
Despite the anger his attacks may cause, Francis often turns the other cheek and even goes so far as to say he doesn't attempt to suppress his critics; he was, in fact, appointed leader of various Vatican departments that work closely with him.
As he enters his eleventh year as pope, Francis is taking bolder steps to confront some of the challenges he faces, particularly in the U.S. (where American politics may play a role) and certain circles in Rome.
This past Sunday saw his 87th birthday, and given his health issues, he couldn't afford to waste any time.
Francis decided that Burke, his longtime adversary, would lose some of his privileges, including allowances and monthly stipends for his 4,488 square meter residence. This move came after the Pope dismissed the Texas Bishop Joseph Strickland last month, who accused Francis of undermining the church's core teachings, even on political topics like abortion and same-sex marriage.
Supporters of Burke and Strickland call Francis a "dictator" who suppresses differing views, while others believe he punishes his critics. Despite the lack of clear precedents in recent history, Francis has allowed these attacks to continue and often ignores them. He acknowledges that sometimes silence is the best answer and that reforms often face opposition.
According to Austen Ivereigh, Pope Francis' biographer, Francis took away Burke's privileges because Burke used them to "act against the church." Ivereigh met with the Pope on November 27.
It seems his patience had finally worn thin," Ivereigh explained. "Cardinal Burke has challenged Francis' authority and teachings for years. That would be shocking in any organization, but especially in the Catholic Church, given the unique role of the pope in maintaining unity."
Francis welcomes criticism, but as Ivereigh notes, the cardinals have made special vows of obedience to the pope and his successor.
Pope Francis' Tolerance for Differing Views
Back in 2018, Burke told a group of Catholics in Rome that, under certain circumstances, it was acceptable not to comply with the Pope's orders. The crowd cheered and clapped. This would have been unthinkable under previous pontificates, as conservative Catholics place great value on loyalty to the Pope. The traditionalist Cardinal from Wisconsin argued that the reform efforts initiated by Bishop Francis had "forgotten the sanctity of the church."
For Francis, this might have been the last straw.
"Given Burke's temperament," said Dawn Eden Goldstein, a theologian and lawyer in Washington, D.C., "Francis wouldn't have tolerated such dissenting opinions for a day, let alone a decade."
Strickland's case, however, is different. Bishops in the Catholic Church are not "CEOs" of the Pope, and they enjoy a certain degree of autonomy. Strickland was dismissed after a Vatican investigation found that it was "unprofitable" for him to continue leading the Tyler Diocese east of Dallas. Strickland also took the unusual step of questioning Francis' legitimacy, a move that goes against the practices followed by communion bishops.
Burke, however, remains the main voice. He is seen as a direct aide to the Pope and his criticisms of Francis are more reasonable than those of Strickland.
Cardinals leading Vatican departments receive preferential housing and monthly salaries of up to $5,900. But Burke is no longer active in the Vatican's central administration, and the decision on his housing was made as the Vatican seeks to address financial shortfalls by ensuring its real estate properties command market prices. The Cardinal served as Dean of the Supreme Court of the Church (and still serves as an advisor) and later became a Grand Master of the Knights of Malta, a position he held until 2014 when he became embroiled in a public spat with the order and the Pope over the distribution of condoms.
The Controversy Surrounding Condoms
The controversy over condoms arose when Burke pressured a member of the Maltese Order to be removed. Burke claimed to have the Pope's support. WikiLeaks released documents showing that Burke did not have the Pope's authorization for this action.
When contacted, Strickland declined to comment, but Burke refused to issue a statement.
The Role of American Politics
The resistance to Francis also has a political component. Burke expressed his satisfaction with Donald Trump's election and joined other US bishops in urging Catholics to withhold communion from Joe Biden, who supported abortion rights. In 2004, Burke announced that he would not administer communion to John Kerry due to his stance on abortion. Despite Francis' strident opposition to abortion, he does not support denying communion to Biden's supporters. Strickland called the President of the United States "evil" and sent a video message to a pro-Trump rally aimed at overturning the 2020 election results.
As America enters an election year, politicized church rhetoric is likely to intensify.
David Gibson, Director of the Center for Religion and Culture at Fordham University, told CNN: "MAGA politics (Make America Great Again) and MAGA Catholics overlap in many ways, particularly in their cultural battles against everything." "It's just about generating hype, anger, and defining what one is for and what one is against."
Gibson noted that supporters of both Trump and Burke fear losing the privileged positions they once enjoyed in both church and society, portraying the past as a "golden age." The Pope called some of his critics "backward" and claimed they had replaced faith with ideology. Gibson added: "Cardinal Burke and his ilk can justify anything they say against the Pope because they believe they are the key to saving the Church from the Pope."
Pope Francis Meets with Trump and Biden in the Vatican.
Potentially counterproductive strategies
Goldstein, a theologian and lawyer from Washington, D.C., who has met with Burke multiple times, noted that there are those who would welcome Burke's vision for the Church if it became the dominant one, as they believe it would make the Church more politically useful.
She noted that Burke had written a preface to a book criticizing the conference sponsored by groups promoting Catholic teachings on issues like care for the poor, the environment, indigenous peoples, and immigration. Goldstein said Burke had sought to create an aura that evoked the "illusion of a return to an earlier age," while Francis tolerates attacks.
However, Goldstein noted that such dissent is relatively new in recent years and would have been unthinkable under previous pontificates.
Others have pointed out that Burke's decision could have unintended consequences and make him a type of "national" cardinal who receives donations from Americans. With the author's support, Burke could find alternative accommodation in Rome. This, said Faggioli, is reminiscent of the "crown cardinals" of the early modern Catholic church, who were nominated or financed by European Catholic monarchs.
According to reports, Burke's decision could impact future papal elections, as it has angered some cardinal electors who want a pope with a different governing approach than Francis.
The Pope may be aware of the risks and is willing to take them, given his mission. In September 2023, Francis appointed 21 new cardinals, including three Argentine compatriots, two other Latin Americans, ten Europeans, three Africans, two Asians, and just one American, Robert Francis Prevost, who was born in Chicago but has served in pastoral ministry in Peru.
In the middle of Francis' vision is the transformation of the Church into the essence of the Christian faith. The Brazilian theologian Leonardo Boff, who served as a Franciscan priest and was an important proponent of Liberation Theology, which had a particular focus on serving the poor, told the German newspaper "Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger" in 2016 that "Francis is one of us."
"My brothers and sisters, conservative Christians, tell me this," Boff wrote as he shared the photo of Burke in his ceremonial "Cappa Magna" robe, a large red cape made from water-soaked silk: "This cardinal in all his pomp and circumstance with Jesus in the manger and on the cross. What does this have to do with anything?"
Further reading:
Those who speak out against Francis are concerned about his openness to communion for divorced and remarried Catholics and his welcoming stance towards LGBTQ+ individuals through his priests.
They're not happy about his focus on immigration and climate change either, and they want a pope who will set the law and present the doctrine in black and white.
For more on the controversy surrounding Burke and Strickland, check out these articles:
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Critics of Pope Francis argue that his stance on LGBTQ+ individuals and his communication with them through his priests is problematic for several reasons:
- Perceived Concessions to LGBTQ+ Rights: Pope Francis is seen as more welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community, which has led to criticism from conservative elements within the Catholic Church. His statements, such as "being gay is not a crime" and his approval of blessing same-sex couples, are viewed as concessions to what some see as morally unacceptable practices[1][3].
- Rejection of Traditional Teachings: The Vatican's guidelines on blessing same-sex couples and allowing transgender individuals to be baptized and serve within the Church are seen as departures from traditional Catholic teachings. This has sparked a strong conservative backlash, with many senior clergy members rejecting these guidelines[1].
- Language and Tone: Some critics argue that Pope Francis' language when discussing the LGBTQ+ community is condescending or ambiguous, which they believe undermines the Church's traditional teachings on sexuality and marriage. For example, his use of terms like "irregular situations" to describe same-sex relationships has been criticized[1][5].
- Conservative Interpretation of Church Doctrine: Cardinals like Burke emphasize the importance of adhering strictly to Catholic doctrine and tradition. They see Pope Francis' actions as a deviation from these principles, particularly regarding the ordination of gay men and the blessing of same-sex couples. Burke has urged priests to remain firmly anchored to Christ and to uphold revealed truth and Catholic Tradition, which he believes is being compromised by Pope Francis' stance on LGBTQ+ issues[2].
- Fear of Moral Relativism: The conservative faction within the Church is concerned about the spread of moral relativism, which they believe is generated by Pope Francis' more inclusive approach. They argue that this approach leads to profound confusion and error regarding fundamental moral truths, and they advocate for a return to clear, unambiguous teachings on sexuality and marriage[2].
These criticisms reflect a broader ideological divide within the Catholic Church between those who advocate for a more inclusive and compassionate approach to LGBTQ+ individuals and those who adhere to traditional teachings and practices.
