A liberal's take on "Ray" getting appointed to the College of Cardinals

As reported today in the La Crosse Tribune, former Bishop of La Crosse Raymond Burke has been named one of 24 new cardinals by Pope Benedict XVI. The move has been expected ever since Burke was named to his post in Rome, a post traditionally held by a cardinal.

Early one Sunday afternoon, a June in 1993, I think, Therese and I with our three little boys stayed after the second Mass at St. Pius X. We were asked to witness the private blessing of the marriage of a couple we met through our son Nicolaas.

You see, Nicolaas was “engaged” to Annalee Dahlheimer. They had met in kindergarten. So of course we had to meet her parents. One thing led to another.

Walking out of the diocesan center early that June afternoon, we discovered our minivan would not start because the battery had finally given up the ghost. Picture the five of us, out in the parking lot behind St. Pius, the only car in the lot, and AAA was not in our wallets. So Therese marched over to the bishop’s residence to ask for a jump start.

Ray appeared at the door in an undone collar. He was busy getting ready to speak at a commencement, he said, and edgy though his voice seemed, he agreed to bring his big black Pontiac out for a jump start. The van fired right up. I guess when the bishop gives you a jump start, you’re tapped into power on a bunch of levels.

When Archbishop Burke was named to his current post, a friend in St. Louis wrote to me, “Oh good, now we’ll only have to kiss his ring.” Okay. I don’t care how far he rises, or about his doctrinal strictness; for me, Ray Burke will always be a busy fellow who took time out of his plans to give our family a jump start.

Mary, Mother of the Church Parish website - La Crosse

Uhhhhh, nothing more to see here...  let's move along.