Posted on 12/25/2005 11:30:34 PM PST by jecIIny
Excommunicated priest holds ‘illicit’ Mass Hundreds attend service in St. Louis despite Church objections The Associated Press Updated: 5:11 p.m. ET Dec. 25, 2005
ST. LOUIS - At least 1,500 people attended Christmas Eve Mass presided by an excommunicated Roman Catholic priest, despite warnings from the archbishop that participating would be a mortal sin.
The Rev. Marek Bozek left his previous parish without his bishop’s permission and was hired by St. Stanislaus Kostka Church earlier this month. As a result, Bozek and the six-member lay board were excommunicated last week by Archbishop Raymond Burke for committing an act of schism.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Thank you for including the actual document in your post. The Congregation for the Clergy did not want to go against the bishop in such a "small" matter as $9 mil. material property.
The words: "This Congregation strongly urges you and the parishioners of St. Stanislaus Parish to work in cooperation with your local Ordinary to restore St. Stanislaus Parish to the status envisioned by its founder, that of a parish of the Roman Catholic Church with a pastor who exercises the pastoral care of the community entrusted to him under the authority of the diocesan Bishop" are directed as much to the parish council as they are to the bishop.
Schisms are so awful! Brrrr! Meanwhile, it became OK to vote "pro-choice".
FWIW, in my experience, priests who have the antinomian itch are very often priests who have the Grave Disorder as well.
But gbcdoj's comment still holds.
Please provide the actual text of Abp. Burke's comments. Your link quotes the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the article doesn't quote Abp. Burke word for word.
Along with your other comments this is some of the most screwed up theology I've ever seen!
You're taking the authority of Christ to forgive sins and the Apostles annoitings and delegating them to men that are not only NOT direct desendants, as you claim, but do not even have a lineage.
If this is the case why did Christ have to die if any man who goes to seminary can forgive sins? This is so bogus and absolutely unscriptural it boaders on the wistful!
Can you not even appear to put some of those scriptures in context? Let's just concentrate on one at a time:
Matt. 9:8 But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled and glorified God, which had given such power unto men?
- this verse shows that God has given the authority to forgive sins to "men."
It does? How? Christ healed the man, what is the scripture referring to, Forgiveness of sin, healing, or both? Look at the context. Read Matt:9:1-8, the whole context.
Ah, hey Sherlock, I'm talking about the church today! And what does Paul have to do with meeting Jesus in the flesh have to do with the Catholic church putting emphasis on things not edifying to his mission? You kept on thinking that Christ intended the Catholic church to be run like it is today and will see who's has the elementary argument...
Your point is? Abp. Burke has allready provided a new parish for the Polish community to take over, St. Agatha, he has done what a Bishop is supposed to do, and that is take care of his flock. This is not the same as what Abp. Ireland of the St. Paul Archdiocese did to various Easteren European communities 100 years ago, nor is it the same how Cardinal Manhoney treats more Traditional Catholics. This is about dis obidence because of money.
This priest, despite the good efforts of Burke, has voluntarily chosen to sever the ties to his bishop. He is now excommunicated. End of story!
For a while there, I thought you might be a learned christian, familiar with the Bible, the Early Church Fathers and Holy Scripture. My apologies for the mistake.
If you don't mind my asking, to which denomination, if any, do you belong? How old is your Church?
"Still want to defend this?"
I am carefully considering all assertions.
I disagree with the "waste of bandwidth" comment. This is great apologetics. It is good instruction for everyone who is interested in learning the truth about our faith. Who but the Catholic Church could possibly interpret Sacred Scripture, when it's her book in the first place?
Thanks for taking the time to post this, even though the addressee may not prepared to hear it. It's sound doctrine, and I hope many will profit by it.
Are you going to answer the question, or just make supercilious comments?
I don't belong to a denomination, I just believe in the word of God...Now will go answer my question, so I can try and point out where I beleive your theology is flawed, and we both might learn something.
Are you kidding me? Do I need to repeat over and over and over that the parish stood and prospered, unlike many others already closed parishes in St. Louis, for 125 years. Burke closed 26 of them. The St. Agatha trick was to make his power-grab look more "pastoral". Guess how many bought the trick and showed up at St. Agatha for the Christmas Eve Mass?
Excommunication is supposed to be a medicinal penalty and not a vindictive one. Its aim is always to bring the offender back to the paths of righteousness. The Roman Catholic Church is means of eternal Salvation and not damnation.
(John 10) "My sheep will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him." A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
(Mark 10) "You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
That's exactly what the journalists heard him saying. But regardless, as of today there are seven (7) active Catholics, one of them a priest, excommunicated in the St. Louis Archdiocese, courtesy of a tough "shepherd" - and none of them was excommunicated for abortion or the support of it.
Wrong again. It's hard to believe you are in good faith when you keep repeating these falsehoods.
Progression of St. Stanislaus Parish Corporation
Structure of the Parish Corporation in 1891 when Archbishop Kenrick Deeded the Parish Property• A Missouri benevolent corporation formed in 1891
• Archbishop appoints six directors and successor directors; the Pastor is also a director
• Any dispute or controversy among the directors is referred to the Archbishop whose decision is final and binding
• The powers of the corporation must be exercised in accordance with Church law and any amendment to the Bylaws must not conflict with Church law
• Upon dissolution of the corporation, all assets become the property of the Archbishop
Structure of the Parish Corporation as Amended in 2004 without the Approval of the Archbishop
• A Missouri benevolent corporation formed in 1891
• Directors are elected by the parishioners; the Pastor is also a director
• The Archbishop has no authority with respect to the corporation and all references to the Archbishop or the Archdiocese have been removed from the Bylaws
• Upon dissolution of the corporation, the parish assets are to be transferred to a Roman Catholic religious organization promoting Polish language and heritage, selected by the Board
Christ promised, in the person of Peter, the Church the power to forgive sins. The promise of this grant was repeated in St. Matthew 18:18 as addressed to the Church, and the power conferred by our Lord after his Resurrection upon the Apostles, as recorded in St. John 20.
The Apostles appointed priests and bishops who were to rule the Church after their departure. It follows that the power to forgive sins then is given by Christ to them, principally to the Bishops, the Successors of the Apostles, and in a derivative manner to the priests, their assistants, for Christ would not abandon his Church to which he said "I am with you for all days, even unto the consummation of the world." This argument is confirmed by the tradition of the Church, which has always reckoned that there is in her the power of forgiving sins.
The Catholic Church is, in substance and in virtue of her divine constitution, precisely what Christ intended his Church to be. We have his word for that: "I am with you always" and also "the gates of Hell will not prevail against it."
Those who acknowledge their sins in the tribunal of Penance, confessing them to a Catholic priest, certainly do bring their sins to Christ.
SaveStStans.org tells a different story.
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