UNITED STATES
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
By David Gibson Religion News Service
Cardinal Raymond Burke, a senior American churchman in Rome who has been one of the most outspoken critics of Pope Francis’ push for reform, is roiling the waters yet again, this time arguing that the Catholic Church has become too “feminized.”
Burke, the former St. Louis archbishop who was recently demoted from the Vatican’s highest court to a ceremonial philanthropic post, also pointed to the introduction of altar girls for why fewer men are joining the priesthood.
“Young boys don’t want to do things with girls. It’s just natural,” Burke said in an interview published on Monday. “I think that this has contributed to a loss of priestly vocations. …
Burke’s comments prompted the St. Louis-based group the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, to issue a statement calling on Pope Francis to condemn the remarks.
“The church becomes a more dangerous and unhealthy place when high-ranking Catholic officials mischaracterize and minimize the abuse and cover-up crisis,” the statement read. “That’s why it’s crucial that Francis and other top church staff denounce and clarify Cardinal Raymond Burke’s outrageous claim.”
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