Cardinal cancels Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice lecture

Cardinal Raymond Burke

Cardinal Raymond Burke, Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signituras, has withdrawn from giving the keynote speech at a conference organised by Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice at Methodist Central Hall on June 18.

The Cardinal, who was to have spoken on 'The Restoration of Church Discipline and Evangelisation' explained in a letter to the organisers that he had received a number of "expressions of concern" from "devout and faithful Catholics" about the event. He also voiced concern over the text of the publicity for the event which has been seen by many as critical of the Bishops of England and Wales. Given his office as representative of the Pope, Cardinal Burke said it would be "wrong" for him to take part.

The full text of the Cardinal's letter follows:

Over the past two weeks I have received several expressions of concern from devout and faithful Catholics of England about the meaning of the presentation which I am scheduled to give at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster on June 18. Also I have received a copy of the registration form for the event which begins with a highlighted text about the decline of the Catholic Church in England and Wales and which continues with the assertion: “sadly, because our bishops are obdurate in their refusal to allow our glorious Catholic faith to be taught in the schools, the downward trend is set to resume with the second generation of immigrants’.” A number of those who have communicated with me also have sent me texts from various sources which in fact are characterising the event on 18 June as a direct criticism of the Bishop of England and Wales by a member of the Roman Curia.

As you will well appreciate, given my position as the Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signitura, in which I act on behalf of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, it is not right for me to give a presentation in any place which would in any way reflect the lack of respect for the Office of the Bishop in that place.

Although I am sure it has not been your intention to put me in such a position, that in fact is what has happened.

As a result, with great regret, I must cancel my engagement to give the public lecture for which Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice invited me.

Knowing all of the effort and expense which you have invested in the event, I particularly regret my need to cancel my participation. You will surely understand that I represent not only myself, but more importantly, the Roman Pontiff. The promotion of my presentation as in some way a direct criticism of the Bishops of England and Wales has made it wrong for me to keep the engagement.

Invoking God’s blessing on you and your apostolate, while entrusting your intention to the intercession of Our Lady of Walsingham and St Joseph,

I remain yours devotedly in the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke

Organiser Daphne McLeod describe the letter as "a terrible blow". She said: "As you do not live in England you cannot possibly be as fully aware of the sad situation here as we are, I should have warned you that there would be an attempt to stop you speaking for us, because this always happens, sometimes from unexpected quarters."

She said: "The truth is that we are ‘whistleblowers' who are inevitably unpopular with the establishment. Even Opus Dei, who work very closely with the Bishops as they never criticise them, have tried to silence us."

The full correspondence can be found on the Ecclesia et Pontifice website. www.proecclesia.com/

Source: Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice