Congratulations Archbishop Burke

The Vatican's gain is America's loss. It was officially announced this morning that Archbishop Raymond L. Burke of the Archdiocese of St. Louis is appointed to be Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura.

From the Vatican website:

NOMINA DEL PREFETTO DEL SUPREMO TRIBUNALE DELLA SEGNATURA APOSTOLICA
Il Santo Padre ha nominato Prefetto del Supremo Tribunale della Segnatura Apostolica S.E. Mons. Raymond Leo Burke, finora Arcivescovo di Saint Louis.

The Signatura is the highest judicial authority other than the Pope himself. In a sense it is the Supreme Court of the Catholic Church & Archbishop Burke is the equivelent of the Chief Justice. It deals with conflicts between two or more Vatican offices; appeals against decisions by diocesan bishops and Vatican offices; and appeals against decisions by the Roman Rota.

The position is usual includes the red hat, so it is fairly certain that Archbishop Burke will become a cardinal (probably cardinal-deacon) at the next consistory. Archbishop Burke is the 1st American to head the tribunal.

Archbishop Burke had the following to say about his appointment: "I am deeply humbled by the trust which His Holiness has placed in me, and, in priestly obedience, I have pledged to serve our Holy Father to the best of my abilities. Although you will no longer pray for me as your archbishop, especially during the celebration of the Holy Mass, I ask your prayers for me, that I may faithfully and generously cooperate with God's grace in fulfilling my new responsibilities."

This will not be his 1st stint in Rome. In 1989 he was appointed Defender of the Bond for the Signatura. He reamined in this position until his appointment as Bishop of LaCrosse in 1995. In 2003 he was appointed to his position at St. Louis. In 2006 he was appointed a member of the College of Judges for the same tribunal.

The appointment comes as no real surprize. He is considered 1 of the World's foremost experts on Roman Catholic Canon Law. Unfortunately, the loss for the American hierarchy is huge. Archbishop Burke has been a very vocal defender of authentic Catholic doctrine. I know there is a group of people in the St. Louis area who won't miss them. They are the peopel who are disidents from various aspects of Catholic teaching like women's ordinations & abortion. Let us pray that Archbishop Burke's replacement will be as strong a defender of the faith as he is. & give these disidents just as much agita.

An interesting aside to all this is that Archbishop Burke will be 60 on 30 June. So, this comes as a birthday present. For me, the appointment is a statement by Papa Benedetto of Archbishop Burke doing his job well & faithfully. The Vatican has need of his talents & I am sure he will fulfill this position of service to the Church as faithfully & as well as he has his other positions of service.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!

MAY GOD BLESS YOU RICHLY AS YOU MOVE INTO YOUR NEW ROLE SERVING CHRIST & HIS CHURCH!