Share your thoughts on this story

Raw Video: Majerus' talks to News 4

Raw Video: Archbishop Burke talks to News 4

Watch News 4 coverage

(KMOV) - Archbishop Burke, who was in Washington on Tuesday, says he trusts that Saint Louis University will discipline SLU basketball coach Rick Majerus over comments he made that disagree with the Catholic church's teachings.

Burke told a News 4 reporter that Majerus’ comments were “very disappointing to me and shocking that a representative of a Catholic institution would make these declarations”.

Burke was referring to comments made by Majerus to News 4 at Saturday’s Hillary Clinton campaign rally.

Coach Majerus told News 4 he's in favor of stem-cell research and is pro-choice on abortion.

Those are views held by other Catholics, but the Archbishop said it's unacceptable for Majerus to announce them publicly.

Burke said what he wants to happen "is it be very clear that these positions are not the positions of the university and that no representative of the university will publicly espouse them".

Saint Louis University released a statement on Tuesday reading " Coach Majerus' comments were his own personal views and he was not speaking for Saint Louis University. The comments were made at a non-University event and he was not there as University representative. "

**PREVIOUS STORY**

(KMOV) -- The basketball coach at St. Louis University is in hot water over comments that do not involve basketball.

Archbishop Raymond Burke tells News 4 that his is concerned about comments Majerus made at a campaign rally for Hillary Clinton.

Coach Majerus told News 4 he's in favor of stem-cell research and is pro-choice on abortion.

Those are views held by many other Catholics, but the Archbishop said it's unacceptable for Majerus to announce them publicly.

Among the thousands in the crowd at presidential candidate Hillary Clinton's rally Saturday night was SLU head basketball coach Rick Majerus.

Majerus stated that he is a supporter for the democrats and that he actually campaigned in three states for Kerry last year.

2004 democratic presidential candidate John Kerry of course came into direct conflict with St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke who said he'd deny communion to the catholic Kerry because he's pro-choice on abortion.

And Sheryl Crowe's pro-choice and pro embryonic stem cell positions led Burke to try to have her banned from last year's Bob Costas fundraiser supporting Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital.

Burke tells News 4, "I think that's something that has to be dealt with at the university, but certainly these positions have to be clarified."

Burke said he expected to talk with SLU President Father Lawrence Biondi.

Several things upset me about this mess. As a SLU Alum I am very upset by Coach Majeres' remarks. He may not have been at the rally in an official capacity but he IS a public face of SLU whether he likes it or not and his public comments are always going to reflect on SLU as long as he has that position. He is welcome to his opinions but whenever he makes public statements they need to be in line with SLU's values. I am also upset that SLU has "sold" it Jesuit Catholic identity and thus cannot/willnot hold Majeres accountable for making public comments that go against Catholic and Jesuit values. Finally, I am also upset that Burke has once again mishandled a controversial situation. He gives all of us Catholics in the St. Louis Archdiocese a bad name. There are definately more pastoral ways that he could have taken care of this problem.

I am a Catholic and everyone I talk to thinks Burke is a JERK. Everyone except my brother and his wife who were a christian brother and a nun respectively which I suppose is to be expected. Burke represents a no change status quo my way or the highway attitude which drives mosts folks over the edge. The Church lost a LOT of moral authority over the last couple of decades. Not just from the internal man/boy society they were running either (coverup included). St. Stanislaus is a prime example of a money grab that the church uses to pad its coffers at the expense of its members. If the folks down at st. stans didn't have two nickels to rub together, the archbishop wouldn't even be talking to them and everyone knows it. The Church made a deal a long time ago that has worked out well for st. stans and now Burke jumps out of the closet to grab the loot. Instead of mask he uses a roman collar. The coach thing is a real terrific example of money calling the tune. Over half the folks that go the SLU arn't even catholic but they certainly take their money but let faculty member open his mouth at an event not even remotely related to the university then the smackdown to on. Its called freedom of speech. Something I fought for and the church knows nothing about. But I will remain. SEMPER FIDELIS.

Much ado about nothing?

Everybody hates Raymond...
He needs to go away, far away....
He does nothing to bring people back to the Catholic Church

come on padre! let coach vote for who he wishes!
let' play basketball!

I think Majerus should have kept his mouth shut. Everyone has opinions, but as soon as someone reaches 'celebrity status' they feel a need to tell everyone what their opinion is. What's next Rick, are you going to announce that your coming out of the closet. Do me a favor, get back to coaching basketball and leave the public opinions at home.

Burke is another reason I am so glad I am not Catholic. He seems to think he needs his fingers in every pie out there. There is such a thing as separation of church and state, but apparently he has not heard of it. It's funny, but we didn't have problems like this when Justin Rigali was here. Burke needs to ask forgiveness for his vanity (isn't that a sin?) in thinking that he has the final word on everything. Get rid of him. He is nothing but a publicity hound. I guess he thinks something is wrong if he is not in the headlines (can you hear vanity calling again?)

Man, what a mess this is huh. Anyways, it sounds like SLU sold out their religious affiliation in order to pay off that new arena. I know that sounds pretty awful. However because of this, SLU also lost the right to fire Majerus because since it is not a religious institution in the eyes of the State of Missouri, they can not discipline or fire people due to Catholic doctrine because that would be considered discrimination. Anyways what Majerus did was a dumb mistake and he certainly didnt think of the consequences but should he punished and ostricized for it. Burke blew this out of proportion just like every other stupid controversy he brewed up. As a Catholic, I am fustrated at the ways he approches controversial issues such as these. I have to wonder, What would Jesus do in this situation? Do you think he would make a big deal out of this like Burke, or do you think he would be more concerned with other issues like poverty, famine, and other crises going on in the world?

Why don't we run that closed-minded Burke out of town. I'm so sick and tired of all these bible bable SOB preaching there B.S.

Time for Burke to move on.
Same song
20th verse
A litle bit louder
A whole lot worse

Why does Burke have to make every opinion of his public? Sounds like an EGO problem to me. Isn't that a bit PRIDEFUL? Isn't that one of the SEVEN DEADLY SINS? Does he confess this sin? If Burke had any class, he should have spoken to Majerus in private - not fall into the caricture he has made of himself.

Again in the second installment of this "story," Mike O'Connell is working from the point of view of the Catholic Thought Police. By pointing out that SLU calls itself a Catholic university on its Web site, he wants to justify the squashing of opinion at SLU that contravenes dogma. Strange position for a journalist.

The Archbishop is a good man and he is only following the Church's teachings. I wish we had him over here in IL instead of the Bishop that we have. For those Catholics that quit becuase of the Archbishop Burke, goodbye. This is not a freedom of speach issue. The Archbishop did not say that the Coach should not voice his views. He stated there should be consequences for not following the Church. If the Coach asks for forgiveness and repents he will be foregiven. If you are so called pro-choice, you are not inline with church doctrine. There is no middle ground and no debate. If you do not believe that go follow some other faith. By the way Catholism is not a popularity contest and it is not an ethnic group, it is a way of life and membership is rising. We are building new church's because the old are bursting at the seam's. I support Archbishop Burke, he is doing a great job and should be rewarded for proudly supporting the church's teachings and not waivering because of new social norms,political views and science.

It is just not a rift between Archbishop Burke and the Coach. He is outside of the Catholic teachings. His views are his own and as a catholic he should repent and ask for forgiveness. I will pray for him.

It is not reasonable to think an employee of an institution should be restricted in his rights to express his personal ideas unless he is pretending to be expressing the views of his institution. Most of what has been written about Archbishop Burke's views suggest he is a believer in theocratic autocracy, no matter who is to be stepped on. If our God had preferred us to have no rights to differ with priests and others laying claim to being God's "talking heads", he could have just denied us free will. He didn't, and I think He's going to hear about that from the Archbishop.

With all due respect, Burke needs to GROW UP.
These are NOT the teachings in the Catholic church. Where is it written that Burke has the right to condem someone for their own PERSONAL beliefs. The coach is not going against the church and their stand on anything.
All the coach is doing is standing up for what HE believes in and had enough RESPECT not to try and belittle someone else for what they believe in.
It dosen't matter if it's right or wrong. It's all in how YOU as an individual portake it.
Burke has been an embarassment to the people of St.Louis ever since he got here. It states in the bible Do not judge lest yee be judged. Sounds to me like Burke needs to practice more of what he teaches himself. It sounds to me that Burke is the one that's CONSTANTLY going against the church. Burke needs to leave the church and go into politics. Then maybe he'll be happy trying to make a difference in the world that way. I would put a personal guarantee that Burke would be the worst politician in history. No one would ever vote for him to go into office.
The one question that keeps coming to my mind is If things are so bad here in St.louis and we're all nothing but a bunch of heathons, Why didn't we ever hear anything from Justin Regali when he was here as Archbishop. We never had the scandles that we do now. Burke has been a thorn in the backside of St.louis ever since he got here.
Just agree do disagree and shut up.

If we really want to stop Archbishop Burke, we need to call the IRS. No church or other non tax paying entity is allowed to tell their members or employees who they can or cant vote for or which proposed laws they can or cant vote for. If they do this, they will lose their tax free exemption. Perhaps we need to teach Burke the cost of his opinions. When he has to pay tax on all the church holdings in St. Louis, the vatican will be quick to move him. Make the call to report this to the IRS today. I just did.

The coach is entitled to his opinion.

The Archbishop should not condem a man because of their personal views.What's the big deal!Is the Archbishop trying to drum up publicity beacuse he hasn't been in the news lately. My opinion is Shut up and mind your buisness!

While I may not share all of Mr. Majerus views, I do believe he has the right to voice his opinion. Mr. Majerus was NOT there as a representative for the Catholic Church nor was he at a school function and/or wearing any school colors or logos. Mr. Majerus was there representing himself and exercising his right to voice his personal believes. Doesnt the Archbishop have more important internal issues to deal with restoring the Catholic communitys faith in the church by openly dealing with those who have violated our youth?