By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis – Pope Benedict XVI has appointed St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke to the Vatican's top tribunal.
The Supreme Court of the Apostolic Signature hears appeals from lower church courts over matters of canon law.
Monsignor John Shamleffer is the judicial vicar for the St. Louis Archdiocese. He said the court hears many kinds of cases, but recently, those concerning parish closings have been among the most prominent.
"Chicago had some cases where they were closing some parishes, and some of the parishes there complained that due process hadn't been followed, and they appealed that decision to the Signature for a hearing," Shamleffer said.
Shamleffer said if the court heard such a case from St. Louis, Archbishop Burke would not participate in the proceedings.
Burke will continue with his normal duties as Archbishop. But Shamleffer said the new position will probably involve more trips to Rome.