Pope Francis Criticized By 2 U.S. Church Leaders: 'He Has Lost His Way'

At least two leaders of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States have come out in the open to criticize Pope Francis for what some believe are his apparent moves to reform the Church.

Cardinal Raymond Burke and Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput both did not mince words in faulting the Pope for his recent action and statements.

In an interview early this week with the Spanish Catholic weekly Vida Nueva, Burke, the former Archbishop of St. Louis, compared the Roman Catholic Church under Francis to "a ship without a rudder."

Exactly the same description was made by Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput who said the Church is "a ship without a rudder" leaving believers "feeling a bit seasick."

Chaput made the statement following a Vatican conference wherein proposals to relax the Church's approach towards homosexuality were heard.

"I was very disturbed by what happened" at the synod of bishops," Chaput said, according to Huffington Post. "I think confusion is of the devil, and I think the public image that came across was one of confusion."

During the confidential synod, a preliminary report was released which included a proposal to remove the "all-or-nothing" attitude of the Roman Catholic Church concerning "irregular" set-ups such as unmarried cohabitating couples and gay couples. The report also took note of the "positive elements" in gay relationships which were described as "gifts and qualities" the Church should not reject.

Chaput denounced the report, which presumably had Pope Francis' blessings. "None of us are welcomed on our own terms in the church. We are welcomed on Jesus' terms. That's what it means to be a Christian. You submit yourself to Jesus and his teaching. You don't re-create your own body of spirituality," Chaput said.

Chaput is expected to host Pope Francis in Philadelphia next September for the global World Meeting of Families.

For his part, Burke believes that the Pope "has lost his way."

Burke, the voice of conservative Catholicism in the U.S., said he is not criticizing the pope personally but rather "raising concerns" about the quality of his leadership.

The 66-year-old cardinal assailed the pope for welcoming gays and cohabitating but unmarried couples into the Church.

Burke does not only reject gay equality but has likewise warned Catholic families not to expose their children to the "evil" of gay relatives. "They [gays] are sinful and unnatural ... It is impossible to find positive elements in an evil act," he said.

However, Burke may have other reason for criticizing the pope. The head of the Vatican's highest court has confirmed that he will soon be demoted by Pope Francis to the ceremonial job of patron of the Order of Malta, a position without influence.

Meanwhile, writing for the Guardian newspaper, columnist Andrew Brown noted that a "Catholic church schism under Pope Francis isn't out of the question."

He said "the conservative backlash against the liberal pope's authority has been fierce, and is gathering momentum."

Brown cited a homily prepared by conservative Australian Cardinal George Pell, which was published over the weekend, where he apparently raised the possibility that Francis might be a "false pope." Pope Francis, Pell said, was the 266th pope, "and history has seen 37 false or antipopes."

Brown asked: "Why mention them, except to raise the possibility that Francis might turn out to be the 38th false pope, rather than the 266th real one?"

Another warning of schism was made by conservative American journalist Ross Douthat who wrote on Sunday that '[Conservative Catholics] might want to consider the possibility that they have a role to play, and that this pope may be preserved from error only if the church itself resists him."

Brown noted though that Pell and Douthat represent only a small minority of the laity and even of bishops. But he cautioned that this minority is substantial, determined and potentially very well-funded.