Speaker Bio
Archbishop Raymond L. Burke
Archbishop Burke is one of the world's foremost authorities on Roman Catholic Canon Law and guides the Archdiocese of St. Louis in the teachings of the Catholic faith. He leads with an unwavering passion for the integrity of Catholic doctrine embodied in the words of Jesus Christ. Archbishop Burke celebrates Mass at the Cathedral Basilica (New Cathedral), but on any given day, he can be found celebrating the sacrament of Confirmation and special Masses throughout the Archdiocese.
Born in June 1948 in Richland Center, Wis., Archbishop Burke's path to the priesthood took him to Rome, where he was ordained by Pope Paul VI on June 29, 1975. One of his first assignments was teaching Religion at Aquinas High School in La Crosse, Wis. His call to serve God has been expressed through a scholarly devotion to faith. He studied Canon law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and later became the first American to hold the position of Defender of the Bond of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, the Church's highest court. He now serves as a member of the College of Judges of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura.
"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. I pray each day for greater goodness, fidelity and generosity in serving Christ and His faithful in the Archdiocese of St. Louis."
–Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke
-
Primacy of Conscience
In our current day the primacy of conscience is often cited as giving license to any sort of behavior. Yet how do we know when we are listening to our conscience or hearing the din of our appetites? What are our responsibilities in forming our own consciences? What is the relationship of the Church's teachings and our individual consciences? The Most Rev. Raymond Burke, a noted canon jurist and Archbishop of St. Louis, delves into his tremendous scholarly and pastoral background to shed light on these questions.
To build a culture of life, start with love.
