The Hit Job on Cardinal Burke in the Press is Ongoing

Hello all, back in the States at last. After a great trip with my lovely wife, back to the grind. As we finally made it past customs in the country formerly known as land of the free, I remarked to my wife that I felt like Gandalf being welcomed into Orthanc and hearing a click as the door closed. But, to the point of the post: certainly the hit job on his Eminence isn't news to you. But, the duplicity of the "religious" press is especially nasty. Headlines are saying things Cardinal Burke didn't say. The headline at this article is particularly odious, and dangerously misleading: Cardinal says church under Pope Francis is a ‘rudderless ship’Now, it doesn't matter that the actual subject of the headline is accurate. We are like a rudderless ship. Or it seems so to actual Catholics. I think, on the contrary, that there is a strong hand on the rudder. And this hand is seemingly steering us over the falls.But Cardinal Burke didn't say this. They are positioning Burke as a flagrant malcontent who is defying the humble Pope. That is not Cardinal Burke. He is a gentle and holy man who loves the Church and is trying to shepherd so many confused Catholics in the midst of constant attacks on the faith. These attacks are being made from low to high and inside and out. But wait, you say! That's what the media does to Pope Francis, and you don't defend him. Well, Mark Shea, that is exactly wrong. It is certainly ironic that modernists are doing to Burke what the shills and water carriers of the neocatholics say is happening to the Pope. But saying ain't doing. Francis is being reported accurately, more or less, as the press usually performs. The odd misquote perhaps, but accurate in sum. The attack on Burke is intentional. He is demonized, demoted, attacked, smeared-- with tactics no true Catholic should condone. He already had to explain the misquote about 'the Pope' having 'done a lot of damage.'What does it matter whether Cardinal Burke said this or that, or whether there is a tone, context, or nuance he utilized instead? Well, all the difference in the world. His Eminence isn't some blogger or Church media wag, with the liberties of style and informality. He is a Cardinal, a Prince of the Church, a close advisor to the Successor to Peter. He is loyal to the Pope, and would not seek to embarrass him. It's a big deal. He knows his place. Only faithfulness to Christ is making him as outspoken as he has been in opposition to Francis' agenda. Francis is allowing this. Think about that for a minute. Don't waste time wondering if he is behind it, or ordering it. He could stop it in a minute. One of those daily press conferences or speeches-- "Leave Cardinal Burke alone, I need him." Or "I am not demoting Cardinal Burke." Or maybe praise his serene theology. He could stop it instantly. Things are bad, worldly-speaking, for the Cardinal. But don't worry, there is surely worse in store for this hero of the faith. They are lately trying to equate Burke with Lefebvre. They think that's an obviously bad thing. Not true, of course, but if it has a degree of truth, it's not exactly bad, is it? He is a stalwart, but there is no controversial, 'schismatic act' to cloud the waters. He has been praised for years for his faithfulness, promoted by the Pope. Gentle, loyal. Now he's evil? Trying to stretch his promotion of the truth into rebellion against the Church is a bridge too far. There is no selling that dog. Yes, they did that with Lefebvre, before the Internet and before forty years' more destruction in the Church. And importantly, the understandable but wrong episcopal consecrations-- after twenty years of persecution-- don't figure into this calculus. And I think the lessons of the past will help Cardinal Burke and us.We shall see. As I said, above it all, there is a strong hand on the rudder. But above that hand is a stronger, unstoppable Hand. Where are we headed and when will it end?