Do you agree or disagree with Archbishop Raymond Burke?

  ST. LOUIS (AP) -- St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke made it clear he opposes a Catholic benefit Saturday night that will feature singer and Missouri native Sheryl Crow, who supports embryonic stem cell research and abortion rights.

  Now members of his flock need to decide if they will attend.

  Burke, speaking at a news conference Wednesday, said it's unacceptable to let Crow headline a concert that will raise money for cancer research at the Catholic-run Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center. Catholic organizers of the concert disagree -- they say performers shouldn't be screened based on ideological beliefs.

  Crow's publicist Dave Tomberlin didn't return several messages seeking comment.

  Burke said he resigned as chairman of the board of directors for the Cardinal Glennon Children's Foundation. He said he had no choice after fellow board members refused to drop Crow from the benefit.

  St. Louis Catholics have had a mixed reaction to Burke's statement.

  "I'm hearing people say: 'I don't understand this at all,' and I'm hearing people say: 'Good for the archbishop,"' said Louise Lears, a nun at St. Cronan Church in St. Louis.

  Lears said she was surprised Wednesday night when she heard Burke's statement. She said many other parishioners didn't connect Crow's name with abortion rights activism.

  Then Lears remembered that Crow appeared in political television ads last year supporting embryonic stem cell research.

  "Frankly, once I thought through Sheryl Crow and the things she had said -- and knowing what I know about the archbishop -- it makes sense to me," Lears said.

  While she doesn't support Crow's position on embryonic stem cell research, Lears said she's hesitant to support an outright ban on her performance. Lears said applying such a tough standard could keep speakers from attending events at Catholic universities or other institutions.

  Burke got support from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights in New York. League President Bill Donohue said Burke made a brave stand.

  "For a Catholic leader to give cover to someone who is not just incidentally pro-choice, but is a rabid abortion-rights activist would be morally unconscionable," Donohue said in a statement.

  Benefit organizer and practicing Catholic Allen Allred said the decision was made two years ago to have Crow headline the 19th annual Bob Costas Cancer Center concert.

  Crow, from Kennett in Missouri's Bootheel, was supposed to headline the act last year, but canceled after she discovered she had breast cancer, Allred said. She agreed to return this year, he said.

  Burke said Catholics could decide for themselves whether to attend the event.

  Allred said tickets were still selling well Thursday. About 3,500 of the total 4,300 seats have been sold, he said. Last year, the event raised more than $500,000 for the cancer center.

  (Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)

I am very disapointed in the Aurchbishop. the women was coming here to help sick children. No matter what her beliefs she was donating her time.

It is hypocritical otherwise.

Crow giving her time and talent to this cause is no more an endorsement of abortion by Glennon Hospital than Burke is endorsing racism by being on the Board of an institution named for his segregationist predecessor.

His decision to resign from the board is a good thing. He is so negative and narrow minded that his input is worthless. His reasoning is so stupid. If this prevents one person from donating or one child from receiving care then he has hurt them all. This money was for the hospital and is desperatly needed. As a supposed man of God, he certainly has an unGodly view of this and committed a "devilish" deed.

It's for the kids, Costas and Crow do many wonderful things for the kids. The archbishop has overstepped his authority......

It should not just be a Catholic Bishop standing up for this. It should all Christians and even non-believers if you believe in life.

The ArchBishop is idot!

IT IS A MATTER OF MORALS. PEOPLE CAN NOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS, BUT TRY TO AND GODS WORD DOES NOT CHANGE. THE TRUTH DOES NOT CHANGE.

Celebrities who donate their time and energy to fundraising events should not be held up to personal scrutiny. I'm sure other people who have worked on behalf of causes that the archbishop supports also hold these views but have not been as vocal about them. I admired Bob Costas for his reply.

I just hope that someday your loved one isn't in need of a life saving operations from stem cell research. Research that will find cures for brain damage, allshimers, dementia, spinal cord injury, etc. Oh, I forgot you don't want your loved ones to have any support when they get older or have any of these medical situations and that God created us for the good of all mankind. Remeber all the books of God were written by men.

Whack Job

I'd like to know why Burke thinks it would be "scandalous" to have Sheryl Crow perform yet the way the church as a whole doesnt protect children from sex offender priests isnt. The consistently lax way that is addressed if at all is the scandal.The benefit is about children plain and simple which as a church should be the #1 goal.What's best for the children.

He has done the right thing. It is far easier to give into the temptation of blood money.

Burke loves the media attention, it has nothing to do with right or wrong.

We need more men like the Bishop. He stands up for the truth and defends those who cannot defend themselves.
For those angered because the Bishop seemingly acted to the detriment of the children, I hope your anger spurred you to make a donation to the children's hospital.

I totally support Archbishop Burke and I stand by him. He is being faithful to the Church and in supporting life.

I disagree with Archbishop.!!!! He, being a man of God, has lost sight of the reason for this benefit and by making more of it than needs to be. Just keep it simple and stop reading more into it than what its original intentions are - TO RAISE MONEY FOR CANCER RESEARCH AT CARDINAL GLENNON(which will benefit all children). It shouldn't be a rival argument on relgious beliefs. Looks to me like Sheryl Crow was being more CHRISTIAN than our Beloved Archbishop. She donated her time to come back to her home state to give a concert with funds going to Cardinal Glennon - pure and simple - it was the Archbishop that has lost sight of his Christianity. The God I believe in is a good God, he would want help for the children and not to have it nit-picked-it apart by the Archbishop.

According to the catechism (2475, 2270,2271,2272)it would be a grave sin for Burke to not make a statement about Sheryl crows pro-abortion stance and remain on the committee at Cardinal Glennon. He is a shepherd that is leading his flock to the truth. The truth is not always easy but it is what will ultimately unite us all with Christ in Heaven. Is that not the ultimate goal!!!! Before saying bad things about Burke it may be wise to make sure there is church teaching to back up the opposition. I have been doing my research and Burke is right on. Have you read the Saint Louis Review this week? Burke spends a few hours before the blessed sacrament every day!!! Catholics know that this is something that JPII did everyday and is something to admire in a man. He is truly putting God first. Is this not what God calls us to. There is so much that the media and the everyday person misunderstands about the Catholic Church. Bishops don't just make up everything they say just because they feel like saying it. They have sound doctrine to back up their teachings.
It is immoral to produce human embryos intended for exploitation as disposable biological material: (Catechism 2275)
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you Job 10:8-12
If in doubt look it up?
Is the Truth always easy?

I think that the Archbishop came to St. Louis with a poorly developed plan to use his position to remold area Catholics in a stricter way of being "Good Catholics". The man is a BULLY! I would bet good money that as a boy he bullied other children on the Parish school playground during recess. His entire demeanor screams "I am the Boss and you better do it my way or I will beat you up"! He really needs to use kinder, gentler approach when he wants people to listen to him and make a choice to follow his rules.
The way he is currently bulldozing his way through St. Louis will not make him as beloved as other Archbishops have been. He should stop and breathe very deeply, then begin to work very hard at remember that being a "Good Catholic" is very much secondary to being a "Good Christian". Being a Good Christian means to strive daily to make it your mission and way of living to be more like Jesus, The CHRIST. Perhaps someone should remind the Archbishop that it was and still is all about Jesus Christ, our first " Man of Total Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness". Jesus did not use his position as "Leader of the Flock" to berate everyone that had a different idea or way of doing things. Jesus did not make His message about who was acceptable and who was not, He did not seek to set anyone up as being holier more righteous because of their way of thinking. All He ask was that we all Love one another. In Love we find Acceptance of what those others may believe. Stem Cell research will continue and eventually be proven to be exactly what most of us are praying that it is, help for the ails and ills that are with so many today. Women will seek out abortions, as they have done for as long as there has been men who would have their way with women. It does not matter if it is legal or illegal, or if the Church approves or whomever else that would point a finger and say "for shame". Nothing that the Catholic Church can or will ever do will stop these things from happening. Archbishop Burke would be better off setting his mind and energies to working toward easing his rigid way of dealing with his Flock. I for one am very fedup watching him get in front of the cameras and act much like a tired toddler. Somebody give that poor man some graham crackers and a glass milk and put him down for a good long nap before he hurts not only himself, but the entire foundation of the Church in the Metro St. Louis area. These are people he is dealing with, they have children and sometimes health issues that could perhaps be helped or even cured with the knowledge gained from this research. Give any mother the choice between saving her child's life or obeying the dictates of Archbishop Burke and she is going to choose her child. Religion can be found in many places, but never put a true mother in that position or the Catholic Church could find itself serving only the old and childless.

i agree with archbishop burke 100 percent too many catholics beleive what they want not what catholicw believe if you dont believe what the catholic church teaches you shount be catholics all ove rthe world there are women on the altar and it is against the rules of the catholic faith kudos to you father burke pat o decatur il

Do you agree or disagree with Archbishop Raymond Burke?