In the corporation sole structure, parishes are considered unincorporated associations without identities separate from the diocese. By incorporating individual parishes, dioceses could protect their property and assets from lawsuits naming the bishop.
In June 2003, Archbishop Justin Rigali, now a cardinal and the archbishop of Philadelphia, announced a massive legal restructuring of the Archdiocese of St. Louis that would transform each parish from an unincorporated association to a nonprofit corporation. Rigali hoped St. Stanislaus, like every other parish, would go along with the changes, but parishioners were unwilling to give up the deal it made [in 1891, wherein the church's lay board controlled the property and assets] with [then-Archbishop Peter Kenrick].
Related threads re St. Stan:
Attorneys for Archdiocese Demanded Recusal of Gay Judge, Records Show
Church Fires Blast at Illinois Law Firm [lawsuit filed against Catholic "St. Stanislaus Corp"]
Rebellious Priests and their followers (Catholic Caucus)
Excommunicated Priest Marek Bozek Joined Group Tied to the Moonies
Two more face excommunication at St. Stan
An Archdiocesan Synopsis of the St. Stanislaus Issue
Response to Archbishop's Interdict
An Appeal from a Group of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parishioners
Burke formally denies sacraments to defiant board
1 Corinthians 6:1-11 (Douay-Rheims)
(1)DARE any of you, having a matter against another, go to be judged before the unjust, and not before the saints? (2)Know you not that the saints shall judge this world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? (3)Know you not that we shall judge angels? how much more things of this world? (4)If therefore you have judgments of things pertaining to this world, set them to judge, who are the most despised in the church. (5)I speak to your shame. Is it so that there is not among you any one wise man, that is able to judge between his brethren? (6)But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before unbelievers.
(7)Already indeed there is plainly a fault among you, that you have lawsuits one with another. Why do you not rather take wrong? Why do you not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? (8)But you do wrong and defraud, and that to your brethren.
(9)Know you not that the unjust shall not possess the kingdom of God? Do not err: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, (10)Nor the effeminate, nor liers with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor railers, nor extortioners, shall possess the kingdom of God. (11)And such some of you were; but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Spirit of our God.
St. Stan’s UNfaithful have been defying the diocese for over a century. They have embraced heresy as well.