2023-12-01 16:01:36
Pope Francis’ demonstrations of radicalism have been growing in relation to Catholic clergy who oppose his directives. The pontiff decided to evict a cardinal from his Vatican apartment because of his criticism of his leadership.
American Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, 75, was evicted from the Vatican in an “unprecedented” decision in the Catholic Church, as retired cardinals usually continue to live in their apartments and participate in activities normally.
“Generally, retired cardinals continue to reside in Rome after leaving office, and often remain active in papal liturgies and ceremonial duties,” explained Christopher White, a Vatican expert.
According to information from BBCFrancis not only evicted Cardinal Burke, but also ordered his salary to be cut as “a way of limiting Burke’s influence by cutting his ties with Rome.”
Burke, who was named cardinal by Francis’s predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, is one of the most conservative people present at the Vatican, widely opposed to abortion and other progressive issues that have been receiving increasingly effusive support from the current pope.
This is Francis’ second radical measure against his critics. On November 11th, the Pope decided to dismiss a conservative bishop American named Joseph E. Strickland, aged 65, on the grounds that he refused to adopt new guidelines for Masses. Coincidentally, the bishop was one of the most intense critics of the pontiff’s nods to LGBT activism.
The measures taken by the pope are being seen as a form of “forced isolation” of those who criticize his progressive views, said Michael Matt, a columnist for the conservative Catholic newspaper The Remnantwhich accuses the pope of persecuting “faithful prelates who provide hierarchical cover to pro-life, pro-family and pro-tradition hardliners.”
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