Death Doesn’t Come For The Cardinal

A little hint from heaven...


I read recently that Cardinal Raymond Burke is off a ventilator, breathing on his own, and speaking to people around him.(1) That ought to be all there is to this story, and everyone should simply be relieved, as we are when anyone in danger is granted a reprieve.

But there’s more to the tale. Burke is an arch-conservative who has defied mask mandates, spread misinformation about Covid vaccines, and, in general, been a complete …well, you can fill in the blank with the four letter word of your choice.(2)


He also has a long history in American politics. He denied Secretary of State John Kerry communion because Kerry was prochoice, campaigned against Joe Biden for the same reason, and publicly endorsed Donald Trump. (3)  Both Kerry and Biden are, of course, faithful Catholics. But Trump? His Christianity is, shall we say? Somewhat theoretical. Oh, and Burke has also established himself as one of the world’s leading adversaries of Pope Francis, and anyone else even hinting at liberalism in the Catholic world. (4)


Thus, when the Cardinal fell victim to Covid, there were some who were neither surprised (given that he’d refused to take the disease seriously, and had publicly declined to use a mask), nor, perhaps, entirely saddened. Indeed, there were a few who muttered something about God moving in mysterious ways his wonders to perform…


But, now, thanks to the modern medical science which the Cardinal seemed, in past days, to scorn…he is better. I gather he is still in the hospital, but at least he’s better. 


I wonder if he will change his tune once he’s on his feet. I wonder if he will, maybe, take his illness as a little hint from heaven about behaving rather differently...


I hope so. Though, frankly, I doubt it.


In which case…


I would never celebrate the death of any person. But, by like token, there are a few recoveries that I cannot embrace wholeheartedly.


Or, at least, not with warmth and enthusiasm.



~mjt



Copyright©2021 Michael Jay Tucker



Please visit my webpage here: https://www.michaeljaytucker.com/



Sources:


1. See “Cardinal who has criticized vaccines taken off ventilator with COVID in Wisconsin 

By Mike Stunson,” Kansas City Star, Aug 22, 2021, https://www.kansascity.com/news/coronavirus/article253519064.html#storylink=cpy, and “His Eminence: Off Ventilator & Leaving ICU August 21, 2021 | News, Press Releases, Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, https://guadalupeshrine.org/cardinalburkehealthnews2/


2. “The Pope’s No. 1 American Nemesis—a COVID-Skeptic—Is Now Fighting for His Life,” by Barbie Latza Nadeau, The Daily Beast, Aug 17, 2021, https://www.thedailybeast.com/cardinal-raymond-burke-pope-francis-american-covid-skeptic-nemesis-fighting-for-his-life


3. Nadeau


4. Nadeau

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