By Sarah Mac Donald - 09 November, 2014
The Vatican confirmed on Saturday that Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, who last week spoke out against Pope Francis’ leadership, has been moved on from his role as Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura.
The cardinal, who was an outspoken critic of the more liberal interim document produced by the recent Extraordinary Synod on the Family, is to become Patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, a largely ceremonial role.
The 66-year-old American prelate had recently signalled that his demotion was imminent.
Last year, Pope Francis move Cardinal Burke off the Congregation for Bishops, which deals with the appointment of bishops worldwide.
Last week, Cardinal Burke said in a newspaper interview that the “Church is like a ship without a rudder”.
Speaking to the Spanish Catholic weekly ‘Vida Nueva’, he commented, “Now, it is more important than ever to examine our faith, have a healthy spiritual leader and give powerful witness to the faith.”
Cardinal Burke is a frequent participant at the annual Fota Liturgy conference in Cork, hosted by St Colman’s society.
