2 Views on Archbishop Burke & Canon

It is no surprize to see who agrees & who disagrees with the recent article written by Archbishop Burke of St. Louis on Canon 915 (See: Canon 915 & Archbishop Raymond Burke ) Here are a couple of quotes taken from the article Bishop preaches tough Communion rule from the 28 Sept 2007 The Columbus Dispatch.

The 1st is by Fr. Richard Neuhaus who is solidly orthodox & understands fully what the Archbishop was trying to say:

The Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, editor of the influential conservative Catholic journal First Things, called Burke's article "a scholarly tour de force."
"The (archbishop's) concern is not a political concern," Neuhaus said. "The article is about, how does the church preserve the sanctity of the Holy Eucharist?"

The 2nd person quoted is Fr. Thomas Reese SJ. You will remember that Fr. Reese stepped down as editor of America Magazine shortly after Cardinal Ratzinger was elected Pope. Given his past record while editor of disent from Catholic teaching, that he is once more doing so is no surprize. & it is done following his usual modus operendi of twisting the facts, & by making obeying Canon law as well as Church teaching optional when it doesn't fit in with his views.

But the article is ambiguous in some areas, said the Rev. Thomas Reese, a senior fellow at Georgetown University's Woodstock Theological Center in Washington.
If Burke is calling on Communion ministers to disobey their bishops and deny Communion to Catholic politicians, it would be "revolutionary" and "encourage anarchy," Reese said.
"Most bishops do not want ministers of Communion playing policeman at the Communion rail," he added. "This is a significant change in focus. Suddenly, you're going to have a few thousand decisionmakers in parishes across the country."

Like I said, twisting the facts. Canon 915 tells who is "not to be admitted to holy communion." While I am not a canon lawyer, the context of the Canon seems to imply that it is up to the priest to apply it in specific situations where the Bishop has clearly failed to do what he should as chief shepherd of a diocese.

Fr. Reese shows his hypocricy in talking about disobeying a bishop, given his disent from the Magesterial teachings over the years. He is the 1 who has been "revolutionary" by undermining Catholic teaching & encouraging "anarchy".

Come to think of it, maybe Fr. Reese realizes that if Canon law was enforced as it should,the 1st person who he shouldn't give communion to is himself.