UNITED STATES
NBC News

By Tracy Connor and Aaron Mermelstein

Four years ago, the former archbishop of St. Louis, Raymond Burke, was caught on tape saying that the head of the Washington archdiocese, Donald Wuerl, and other moderates were “weakening the faith” by refusing to ban pro-choice politicians from receiving communion.

Burke had to apologize for the remark, but it didn’t diminish his profile in Rome under former Pope Benedict, who had appointed him head of the Vatican’s equivalent of the supreme court and given him a coveted spot in the influential Congregation of Bishops.

Now, there’s a new pontiff in town.

Pope Francis this week shook up the bishops panel, replacing the conservative Burke, now a cardinal, with none other than the moderate Wuerl, also a cardinal, in a move that could have a far-reaching effect on church leadership.

“This is one of the most significant moves so…