Shakeup in the Vatican

For John, BLUF:  It looks like Pope Francis can play hardball.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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From The New York Times we have a news article on Vatican Politics—"Pope Demotes U.S. Cardinal Critical of His Reform Agenda".

That would be Raymond Cardinal Burke, former Bishop of St Louis, MO.♠  Here are the first two paragraphs of the story:

ROME — Pope Francis on Saturday sidelined a powerful American cardinal who has emerged as an unabashed conservative critic of the reform agenda and the leadership style that the Argentine pontiff has brought to the Roman Catholic Church.

In an expected move, Cardinal Raymond L. Burke was officially removed as head of the Vatican’s highest judicial authority, known as the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.  He was demoted to the ceremonial position of chaplain for the Knights of Malta, a charity group.

Not everybody likes reform.  Not everybody understands reform.  Not everybody agrees on how the human psyche works.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  Do we still use that older form of name?