Sheep Without a Shepherd (but With an Archbishop): Foucault's Pastoral Power and the Denying of Communion

Abstract

In 2003 and 2004, Raymond Burke went from being a little known bishop in Wisconsin to one of the most controversial figures in the Catholic Church. Burke created controversy by saying he would deny communion to Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry and other pro-choice Catholic politicians, and for denying communion to Polish Catholic parishioners who refused to cede control of church assets. This study explores Burke's rhetoric in these two unique and important conflicts in light of Michel Foucault's work on pastoral power to analyze the usage of the shepherd concept, its limits, and implications for power within church organizations.