Vatican Signatura Prefect, Archbishop Raymond Burke has apologized for
"confusion and hurt" following his criticism
of US bishops in an interview with activist Randall Terry, whom
Archbishop Burke also accused of using the interview in an
"objectionable manner".
The Detroit News reports that Terry
had traveled to the Vatican to push for removing U.S. bishops who allow Catholic politicians to receive Holy Communion even if they back
legalized abortion.
In his remarks, Burke
told Terry that American parishioners should press U.S. bishops to
withhold the sacrament. "It is weakening the faith of everyone," Burke
said.
Burke said he did not know Terry planned to show a videotape of his comments at a news conference Wednesday in Washington.
He said in a statement Thursday he found Terry's use of his comments "objectionable."
"If
I had known what the true purpose of the interview was, I would never
have agreed to participate in it," said Burke, the former St. Louis
archbishop. "I am deeply sorry for the confusion and hurt which the
wrong use of the videotape has caused to anyone, particularly to my
brother bishops."
But Terry had said that Burke knew the goal of the
campaign and that the interview would be distributed, the Detroit News says.
In the interview, the archbishop also warned
that President Barack Obama "could be an agent of death" if his support
for abortion rights becomes a model for leaders in other countries.
;
Extracts from Archbishop Burke's statement
"Sadly, Mr. Terry has used the videotape for another purpose which I find most objectionable.
"First, Mr. Terry issued a media advisory which gave the impression that I would be physically present at the press conference during which he played the videotape, when, in fact, I was in Rome.
"Second, I was never informed that the videotape would become part of a press conference.
"Third, I gave the interview as a Bishop from the United States to encourage those engaged in the respect life apostolate, not as the Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.
"Fourth, I was never informed that the videotape would be used as part of a campaign of severe criticism of certain fellow bishops regarding the application of Canon 915 of the Code of Canon Law.
"If I had known what the true purpose of the interview was, I would never have agreed to participate in it.
"I am deeply sorry for the confusion and hurt which the wrong use of the videotape has caused to anyone, particularly, to my brother bishops."
Terry, the former leader of Operation Rescue, has initiated a campaign to lobby Vatican officials to remove U.S. Catholic bishops who were not doing enough to stop abortions, National Catholic Reporter says.
He called for the removal of Bishop Loverde of Arlington and Archbishop Wuerl of Washington DC.
SOURCE
Vatican official sorry for interview (Detroit News)
Burke apologizes for remarks critical of U.S. bishops (National Catholic Reporter)
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