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Rebel St. Louis parish rebuffs archbishop's reconciliation offer

CWN - August 09, 2010

Members of a rebellious Catholic congregation in St. Louis have voted to reject an offer of reconciliation put forward by Archbishop Robert Carlson.

The people of St. Stanislaus Kostka parish-- which has been stripped of its standing as a Catholic parish in the St. Louis archdiocese-- chose to break off negotiations with the archdiocese. A longstanding dispute for control of the parish is now likely to be resolved in civil courts.

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  • Posted by: damian.riggs8445 - Aug. 10, 2010 1:18 PM ET USA

    Complicated issue, the parish was formed in 1891 and been allowed to conduct itself is a particular way for all of that 119 year history. Parishioners fail to appreciate that their pastor is the bishop and not his delegate, the priest. Finally, too, the parishioners lack understanding of the reality of what it means to be Catholic. Disobedience and independence from the bishop is not catholic and shopping for one's "own priest" is also not catholic. Sadly, the parish excommunicated itself.

  • Posted by: Don Vicente - Aug. 09, 2010 10:36 PM ET USA

    Fr. Marek Bozek, the excommunicated "pastor" of the parish has acquired "secondary faculties" (whatever those might be) from "The Reformed Catholic Church" and "Married Priests Now!." An interesting,but anonymous canonical opinion was obtained by the St. Louis Post Dispatch last year: http://piotr.sabrestlouis.com/Post_Dispatch_02_13_2009_htm.html Prayer for reconciliation is obviously needed, but this may be a sign of the future as "cafeteria Catholics" decide to "super-size."

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