A priest no more: Bozek laicized

Deacon's Bench ^ | March 10, 2009 | Deacon Greg

[NYer]

The priest who has been at the center of a firestorm in the Archdiocese of St. Louis has been officially stripped of his faculties, according to the Associated Press:

A priest who defied his Roman Catholic bishop in 2005 to become pastor of a largely Polish-American parish at odds with the archdiocese has been stripped of his priesthood.

The decision by Pope Benedict XVI to return Marek Bozek from priest to lay person came a year after the move was recommended by former St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke.

In 2005, Bozek was serving in southern Missouri's Springfield-Cape Girardeau Diocese when he accepted the pastorship of St. Stanislaus Kostka parish in St. Louis at the invitation of parishioners. Only bishops can assign priests.

Burke had removed the Polish-heritage parish's two priests over a long-festering dispute over control of parish assets. Parishioners then took it upon themselves to hire the Polish-speaking Bozek.

Bishop James Johnston said the Vatican's decision resulted from Bozek abandoning the assignment in Springfield-Cape Girardeau.

But Bozek said Monday he will not leave St. Stanislaus and will take his orders from a reformed Catholic bishop, who granted him temporary priestly faculties last year in anticipation of the Vatican's decision.

That bishop, Phillip Zimmerman, is affiliated with the late 19th century reformed Catholic church movement which rejected the declaration of papal infallibility, he said.

Bozek said he was read the formal pronouncement in Springfield late Monday but that he learned the Vatican issued the decision Jan. 31. He said he was not given a copy.

At a Monday night news conference at St. Stanislaus where he was joined by dozens of parishioners, Bozek said he was disappointed by the move but will continue his ministry and offer valid Catholic sacraments.

There's more at the link.

[NYer]

He’ll probably join the other dissenters at one of the Old Catholic Churches.

[incredulous joe]

The often forgotten third vow; obedience.

[knittnmom]

Seems he’s been stripped of his OFFICE, not his faculties. Around here, faculties refers either to academic staff, or one’s mental abilities.

[vladimir998]

Really he already has. At least he has admitted that he is talking to them and the wacko outfit led by Milingo.

[ArrogantBustard]

No ... the term is used correctly. From "www.dictionary.com"

fac⋅ul⋅ty

7. a power or privilege conferred by the state, a superior, etc.: The police were given the faculty to search the building.

8. Ecclesiastical. a dispensation, license, or authorization.

[knittnmom]

Thanks for the clarification. Guess I should have used onelook.com before posting.

[sitetest]

Dear knittmom,

In Catholic terms, “faculties” refer to the things one may do with the permission of the ordinary of the local diocese. Thus, the bishop grants permission to say Mass publicly, to hear confessions, etc. Without those faculties, a priest still may validly say Mass, and in dire emergency, hear confessions, but those actions would be illicit, that is, against the (Church's) law.

With laicization, the priest not only loses his faculties in all Catholic diocese (in fact, he loses the capacity to receive faculties from diocesan ordinaries), but he is no longer a member of the clerical state. Although he remains an ordained priest forever, he is no longer part of the hierarchy of the Church, and can no longer act in anyway in that capacity.

sitetest

[knittnmom]

Thanks.

[mockingbyrd]

Buh-Bye

[Venturer]

The way I see it, the Priest is no longer a Priest and his followers are no longer Catholic.

They can call themselves anything they like, but if they arent recognised by the Church they arent Catholics.

As for the Property I believe all Churches belong to the Diacese and although they may inhabit that Church it wil eventually be decided in court that they will have to find a new place to worship.

Much will depend on who calls Whom’s bluff.

[VidMihi]

Found this recently - may be relevant:

Remember the incident reported in 9th chapter of Luke and also in the 9th chapter of Mark. Loosely translated as follows: John reports to Jesus “we saw a priest doing ministry in your name but we tried to stop him because he did not have faculties.” “Do not stop him“ Jesus said “for whoever is not against us is for us“ - However some institutional officials may quote what is attributed to Cardinal Cody - “What does the Gospel have to do with anything, anyway? “

[steadfastconservative]

This is also one of the most serious punishments, short of excommunication, that can be imposed on a priest. Hopefully, this case discourages other priests from doing the same thing.

[Arthur McGowan]

How tragic that this never happened to baby-killer Judas-priest Drinan.

[Carolina]

This is also one of the most serious punishments, short of excommunication, that can be imposed on a priest.

IIRC, the lay board was excommunicated by Abp. Burke. Since then, a couple of the members have reconciled with the Church.

[vox_freedom]

excerpt:
Bozek has attracted divorced and gay formerly disenfranchised Catholics to St. Stanislaus and repelled some of the longtime Polish families who hired him in 2005.

"Disenfranchised" like himself...
These people need to return to the Church, and adhere to its teachings, dogma, and doctrine.

[dangus]

Drinan stepped down from office when commanded to by the Vatican. If he had not, your comparison would be apt.

[bobjam]

What exactly did St Stanislas do to get on Archbishop Burke’s bad side? Why was this problem allowed to get this far?

[VidMihi]

While I in no way support Fr. Bozek, in the interest of accuracy, a few things might be noted -

To incred Joe, who mentioned a “third vow -obedience”, while I do not know for sure, since Bozek is not a “religious”, it is highly unlikely that he ever took any vows, much less a third one of obedience.

To Venturer, who said “the priest is no longer a priest” -
the Council of Trent in effect said “go to hell” - “Si quis dixerit, eum qui semel sacerdos fuit, laicum rursus fieri posse, anathema sit” - Den. 964

[iowamark]

There should also be a public reprimand of retired Springfield Bishop John Leibrecht. He was the one who started this by ordaining Bozek after he had been thrown out of two seminaries for homosexual activity.