Anti-vaccine US Cardinal recovering from COVID

Cardinal Burke

US Cardinal Raymond Burke, 73, who has spoken out on several occasions against the Covid vaccines, is recovering in hospital after a bout of the virus, during which he was placed on a ventilator for about ten days. The Cardinal's family announced yesterday that he has come off the ventilator and was leaving an Intensive Care Unit and returning to his hospital room.

After speaking with him on the phone, his sister said: "His Eminence expressed his deep gratitude for the many prayers offered on his behalf. His family asks that we continue those prayers for his full and speedy recovery, and they are grateful to God for the exceptional medical care the Cardinal has received from the dedicated doctors and nurses who continue to assist him."

It was announced that Cardinal Burke had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. on 10 August. On 14 August he was put on a ventilator.

In a statement from the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Rev Paul N Check said: "The outpouring of love, prayers and support during His Eminence's hospitalisation has greatly consoled his family, edified those who serve him at the Shrine and elsewhere, and testified to the character and virtue of the man whom so many consider a spiritual father. We deeply and abundantly appreciate this charity, and we give praise and thanks to our Heavenly Father, especially for the brilliant and faithful service of Cardinal Burke to the Church he loves so profoundly."

Last December Cardinal Burke described Covid-19 as the "mysterious Wuhan virus", in line with the attribution of former US President Donald Trump. Earlier last year the Cardinal questioned a need for social distancing in dealing with the virus and opposed mandatory vaccination. In May 2020, he spoke out against mandatory vaccinations, saying "it must be clear that vaccination itself cannot be imposed in a totalitarian manner on citizens."

He also said vaccines had been developed "through the use of the cell lines of aborted foetuses" and that "a kind of microchip needs to be placed under the skin of ever person , so that any moment he or she can be controlled by the state regarding health and other matters about which we can only imagine."

He said in March 2020 that the best weapon for battling "the evil of the coronavirus" is a relationship with Jesus Christ.