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[[File:Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke.jpg|right|thumb|Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke]]

[[File:Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke.jpg|right|thumb|Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke]]

Raymond Leo Burke is the former Archbishop of [[St. Louis]] who currently serves as the highest ranking American clergyman in the Catholic Church, holding a position in the [[Vatican]] that is comparable to the Chief Justice of the United States.

'''Raymond Leo Burke''' is the former Archbishop of [[St. Louis]] who currently serves as the highest ranking American clergyman in the Catholic Church, holding a position in the [[Vatican]] that is comparable to the Chief Justice of the United States.

He is a strong advocate of moral principles, such as [[pro-life]] and traditional [[marriage]].

He is a strong advocate of moral principles, such as [[pro-life]] and traditional [[marriage]].

===Early Life===

==Early Life==

Fr. Burke was born June 30, 1948 in Richland Center, [[Wisconsin]] to Thomas and Marie Burke. He attended elementary school at St. Mary School in Richland Center,  secondary school at St. Joseph School in Stratford and high school at Holy Cross Seminary in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Burke attended college at Catholic University of America in [[Washington, D.C.]] He studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and was ordained to the priesthood by [[Pope Paul VI]] on June 29, 1975, at the Basilica of St. Peter. <ref>[http://www.mariancatechist.com/html/general/archbishopburkespage.htm Archbishop Burke’s Page] Marian Catechist</ref> Fr. Burke returned to Wisconsin as associate rector of the Cathedral of St. Joseph and teacher of religion at Aquinas High School in La Crosse. In 1980, Father Burke returned to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University. In 1989, Father Burke returned to Rome when [[Pope John Paul II]] named him Defender of the Bond of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the first American to hold this position on the Church’s highest court. Bishop Burke was ordained to the episcopacy by Pope John Paul II on January 6, 1995, at the Basilica of St. Peter and became Bishop for the Diocese of La Crosse on February 22, 1995.

Fr. Burke was born June 30, 1948 in Richland Center, [[Wisconsin]] to Thomas and Marie Burke. He attended elementary school at St. Mary School in Richland Center,  secondary school at St. Joseph School in Stratford and high school at Holy Cross Seminary in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Burke attended college at Catholic University of America in [[Washington, D.C.]] He studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and was ordained to the priesthood by [[Pope Paul VI]] on June 29, 1975, at the Basilica of St. Peter. <ref>[http://www.mariancatechist.com/html/general/archbishopburkespage.htm Archbishop Burke’s Page] Marian Catechist</ref> Fr. Burke returned to Wisconsin as associate rector of the Cathedral of St. Joseph and teacher of religion at Aquinas High School in La Crosse. In 1980, Father Burke returned to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University. In 1989, Father Burke returned to Rome when [[Pope John Paul II]] named him Defender of the Bond of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the first American to hold this position on the Church’s highest court. Bishop Burke was ordained to the episcopacy by Pope John Paul II on January 6, 1995, at the Basilica of St. Peter and became Bishop for the Diocese of La Crosse on February 22, 1995.

===Bishop Burke===

==Bishop Burke==

Fr. Burke sent private letters to three local politicians advising them that they risked their spiritual wellbeing by not giving up their pro-abortion voting patterns. The letters were leaked to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and published with accompanying criticism. He proceeded to put additional concepts into practice. The following week, Fr. Burke published more letters in which he advised the Central Wisconsin HIV/AIDS Ministry to withdraw from an annual AIDS fundraising due to pro-homosexual groups participation. In a hail of criticism he said, "I have no regret whatsoever. It was my duty as bishop.... " <ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Bishop+Raymond+Burke-a0113854907 Bishop Raymond Burke] The Free Library.com</ref> Shortly after, Bishop Burke was informed that he had been appointed Archbishop of St. Louis. He was appointed Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura by His Holiness [[Pope Benedict XVI]] on June 27, 2008.  

Fr. Burke sent private letters to three local politicians advising them that they risked their spiritual wellbeing by not giving up their pro-abortion voting patterns. The letters were leaked to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and published with accompanying criticism. He proceeded to put additional concepts into practice. The following week, Fr. Burke published more letters in which he advised the Central Wisconsin HIV/AIDS Ministry to withdraw from an annual AIDS fundraising due to pro-homosexual groups participation. In a hail of criticism he said, "I have no regret whatsoever. It was my duty as bishop.... " <ref>[http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Bishop+Raymond+Burke-a0113854907 Bishop Raymond Burke] The Free Library.com</ref> Shortly after, Bishop Burke was informed that he had been appointed Archbishop of St. Louis. He was appointed Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura by His Holiness [[Pope Benedict XVI]] on June 27, 2008.  

{{cquote|“My greatest joy is to teach the faith and celebrate the Sacraments for the flock which God has entrusted to my pastoral care. Having been called by Christ to the priesthood, I am ever more humbled by the reality of the priestly life and ministry. At the same time, I am filled with confidence, because the ministry belongs to Christ Whom I, through no merit of mine, have the privilege to serve.”}}

{{cquote|“My greatest joy is to teach the faith and celebrate the Sacraments for the flock which God has entrusted to my pastoral care. Having been called by Christ to the priesthood, I am ever more humbled by the reality of the priestly life and ministry. At the same time, I am filled with confidence, because the ministry belongs to Christ Whom I, through no merit of mine, have the privilege to serve.”}}

===Writings===

==Writings==

<ref>[http://www.archstl.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=86&Itemid=74 Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke]  archstl.org</ref>

<ref>[http://www.archstl.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=86&Itemid=74 Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke]  archstl.org</ref>

*"The Discipline Regarding the Denial of Holy Communion to Those Obstinately Persevering in Manifest Grave Sin," Periodica, Vol. 96 (2007), 3-58.  

*"The Discipline Regarding the Denial of Holy Communion to Those Obstinately Persevering in Manifest Grave Sin," Periodica, Vol. 96 (2007), 3-58.  

*On the Preparation of the Jubilee Year 2000, Dec. 1, 1996

*On the Preparation of the Jubilee Year 2000, Dec. 1, 1996

===References===

==References==

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[[Category:Catholicism]]

[[Category:Catholicism]]