Raymond Burke

Archbishop Raymond Burke is the Prefect of the Apostolic Signatura and the former Archbishop of St. Louis. Ordained by Pope Paul VI in 1975, Burke is a leading authority on Roman Catholic canon law. He was appointed Prefect by Pope Benedict XVI in June of 2008.Archdiocese of St. Louis: Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke

A staunch opponent of President Barack Obama, Raymond Burke has called the University of Notre Dame's decision to have the president speak at a graduation commencement a "scandal". Burke opposes what he calls the Obama administrations "anti-family" and "anti-life" agenda. The statements by the cleric were given in May of 2009FoxNews: Archbishop Slams Obama Appearance... (May 8, 2009)

Archbishop Raymond Burke most staunchly opposes Obama's views on stem cell research and abortion. Burke, many in the high-clergy and the Cardinal Newman Society, have come out against the University of Notre Dame's invitation to the president for a speaking engagement at a 2009 graduation ceremony. The school has also extended an honorary degree to the president. The Cardinal Newman Society has amassed more than 350,000 signatures in protest of the school's decision, stating that the Obama administration is "in defiance of [the Catholic Church's] fundamental moral principles."San Jose Mercury News: Catholic political divide over Obama at Notre Dame (May 6, 2009)