The Pope is Too Kind- I'd Have Fired Cardinal Burke

Pope Francis means business. Just ask Cardinal Raymond Burke:

The highest-ranking American at the Vatican was demoted this weekend, after weeks of vocally criticizing Pope Francis’ liberal leadership of the Catholic Church. 

In an unprecedented move for the Vatican, Cardinal Raymond Burke was taken off the church’s highest court to become the chaplain of the Knights of Malta, a Vatican charity group, after vocally opposing the church’s recent progressive moves. His new position holds almost no responsibilities.

Now I know where this is going- "How dare he silence the voice of a conservative cardinal, does he not value open dialogue?" First off, the Pope is in charge of the church. Second off, just read this:

Burke, 66, did not fit in with the liberal-leaning trend. He was a leader in the conservative movement within the church and has fought against any liberal interpretation of Catholicism, particularly with regards to homosexuality. (“Always and everywhere wrong [and] evil,” he said.) “The pope is not free to change the church’s teachings with regard to the immorality of homosexual acts or the insolubility of marriage or any other doctrine of the faith,” Burke told Buzzfeed last month. 

The Pope, within the Catholic system, is free to do as he wishes. Now, generally Popes don't wildly change doctrine, but the Pope isn't. He's saying "hate the sin, not the sinner" in regards to divorce and homosexuality. That's his right to do. He's trying to be more inclusive, even to people who don't "behave."

As for Burke and the conservative cranks who have engaged the American Catholic Church in not only partisan politics, but also awful scandal- I say good riddance. I would have fired the guy, not just demoted him.