In an essay he co-authored on subsidiarity, Cardinal Pell wrote about the preferences of some liberal Christians living in countries with more liberal episcopacies.

During the pontificates of St John Paul II and Benedict XVI, such Christians "were often keen to decrease the authority of the Roman Curia and complained about excessive centralisation of decision-making in the Vatican".

"With the advent of a new Pope often estimated (wrongly in our belief) to be a doctrinal liberal, some of these more liberal elements might be more relaxed about Roman leadership," the authors noted.

"[They would be] preferring that to a devolution of wider decision-making powers to a national hierarchy of a more conservative hue."

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In an interview on a French television channel, Cardinal Raymond Burke said popes do not have the power to change the Church's teaching or doctrine.

Papal power is "at the service of the doctrine of the faith", he explained, according to a translation of the interview on the blog Rorate Caeli.

The interviewer then asked: "In a somewhat provocative way, can we say that the true guardian of doctrine is you, and not Pope Francis?"

"We must, let us leave aside the matter of the Pope," the cardinal replied.

"In our faith, it is the truth of doctrine that guides us."

"If Pope Francis insists on this path, what will you do?" the interviewer then asked.

"I will resist. I cannot do anything else," he said.

Cardinal Burke went on to say that the Catholic Church is facing "a difficult time" that is "painful" and "worrisome".

But he recalled the Lord's assurances in the Gospel that the forces of evil would not prevail.

Asked whether Pope Francis is his friend, the cardinal replied, "I would not want to make of the Pope an enemy, certainly!"

According to a subsequent report on the Catholic News Agency, Cardinal Burke said he was "responding to a hypothetical situation" in his comments about Pope Francis and doctrine.

"I simply affirmed that it is always my sacred duty to defend the truth of the Church's teaching and discipline regarding marriage," Cardinal Burke said.

"No authority can absolve me from that responsibility, and, therefore, if any authority, even the highest authority, were to deny that truth or act contrary to it, I would be obliged to resist, in fidelity to my responsibility before God."

Late last year, Pope Francis appointed Cardinal Burke to a largely ceremonial position with the Order of Malta.

This came after the cardinal's term as prefect of the Apostolic Signatura had come to an end.

Many commentators saw the move by Pope Francis as a demotion for Cardinal Burke.

Sources

• UCA News
• Catholic Herald
• Catholic News Agency
• Rorate Caeli
• Image: CBS News

Preaching at a Mass at the Saint Martha residence where he lives on September 2, the Pope said people were amazed at Jesus' preaching because his word "had authority".

Jesus' authority came from a "special anointing of the Holy Spirit", the Pope continued.

Turning to the first reading of the day, the Pope cited St Paul, saying that we do not speak of these things "with words evoked by human wisdom".

St Paul did not preach because he took a course at a pontifical university, such as the Lateran or the Gregorian, Pope Francis said.

The source of his preaching was "the Holy Spirit", not human wisdom.

A person might have five theology degrees, the Holy Father said, but not have the Spirit of God.

"Perhaps you will be a great theologian, but you are not a Christian, because you do not have the Spirit of God! That which gives authority, that which gives you your identity and the Holy Spirit, the anointing of the Holy Spirit."

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Do you sometimes wonder if things have changed?

I don't think they have.

Men are careful. Men are circumspect. Men, after all, have their careers to consider.

Women just do it.

That could be a reason Jesus did not name women as Apostles, or at least why the women who were there did not bother with the title. The women were not interested in advancement or having their names remembered. They were simply doing.

What did the men want? Power? Authority? They preached the message, it is true, but they also jockeyed with each other for position. And who could forget the one who sold out for cash?

So, have things changed? As the church universal begins to move through the holy days this season, few will argue with the statement that the men have made a mess of things.

Of course, the Big Events go forward. The pope goes to Mexico. The pope goes to Cuba. The symbolism is striking, even as the palace guard drags the nearly 85-year-old professor around the world. On the one hand, it seems insane. On the other, it is important, it really is.

But it is also very, very important for Christians — a third of the world — to keep an eye on the empty tomb. Christ is risen, that tomb proclaims. Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. That is what really makes a difference.

Without the concept — if not the fact — of resurrection burned into every human heart and mind, the names Trayvon Martin and, lest we choose sides, George Zimmerman soon will be forgotten and tossed upon the trash heap of history. Their names, their story and their stories, are emblematic of so much of human interaction.

What happened in Florida happens every single day in so many ways in so many lives. We never really know who started things. We only know both sides are changed forever. Continue reading

Sources

• Phyllis Sagano in National Catholic Reporter
• Image: Revival Cry

The phrase "the Vatican says" doesn't really mean anything, but it's used all the time. In her blog Simcha Fisher gives five meanings that could be given to the these words.

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Simcha Fisher is a cradle Hebrew Catholic. She is a Senior Writer for Faith and Family Magazine and blogs at I Have to Sit down.

Image: Patheos.com