.gif)
St. Stanislaus Kostka Church (Saint Louis)
Encyclopedia
St. Stanislaus Kostka
Church is a former Catholic Church parish located in the city of St. Louis, Missouri
. It was established as a Catholic parish in 1880 to serve the Polish community in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. It is considered to be the best example of the opulent 'Polish Cathedral style
' of architecture west of the Mississippi River
. The church is notable for a highly publicized dispute over control of the parish and its assets between the church's lay board of directors and the Archdiocese of St. Louis. In December 2005, the former Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke
declared the parish's board members and priest, Marek Bozek, excommunicated and announced his intention to suppress the parish, meaning that it would be disbanded, with the likelihood of the premises being sold. The church responded by holding a Christmas Eve Mass attended by 1,500-2,000 people. The church continues to be maintained and run as a not-for-profit corporation by church parishioners. In 2010 a settlement offer from the Archdiocese of St. Louis was rejected by a divided congregation.
In 1928, the church was damaged by a fire which destroyed the original center dome of the structure, but the other damage was repaired. In 1969, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, Archbishop of Kraków
, who would later become Pope John Paul II
, visited the parish during a trip to the United States. The building was listed as a City Landmark in 1976 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1979.
The church continued to serve the Polish Catholic community in St. Louis even as the community dispersed from the surrounding neighborhood and the area deteriorated. By the 1970s, the parish buildings were severely deteriorated. The parishioners undertook a large scale restoration of the church building and began acquiring land surrounding the church. Later improvements included the construction of a Polish Heritage Center. By 2005, the church assets included 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) of land, and the board of trustees estimated the total value of the parish assets at $9.5 million.
and the spiritual authority of the archbishop, focused on whether the property and monetary assets would be controlled by a pastor
appointed by the archbishop
, which is the canonical
norm, or by a lay board of directors who renounced the archbishop's authority over the members of the board. The controversy began under Cardinal John J. Glennon
and continued under the late Cardinal Joseph Ritter and his successors, the deceased Archbishop John May
, Cardinal Justin Rigali, now of Philadelphia, and most recently under Archbishop Emeritus
Raymond Leo Burke
, who is now Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura
and a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church. The present Archbishop of St. Louis, Robert James Carlson
, is endeavoring to find an adequate compromise that satisfies canon law and all concerned parties, but the breakaway members rejected his latest proposal, though efforts are ongoing.
The current structure of the parish
derives from one created in 1891. The current parish board has taken the position that the purpose of Burke's actions was to take control of the assets of the parish for primarily economic reasons. They note that the parish had sustained and restored itself without financial assistance from the Archdiocese and claimed that Burke intended to close the parish once he had control of it.
The archdiocese alleges that the lay board of directors, in the early 1980s, without permission from Archbishop May, changed the original 1891 bylaws, which stipulated that the lay board was to function solely as an advisory body to the pastor
and thus under the archbishop
(cf. the Plenary Councils of Baltimore
). In the bylaws as changed, the authority of the pastor was revoked, putting all control of the parish in the hands of the lay board. Therefore, not long after his appointment, Burke mandated that the structure of the parish
once again conform to canon law
. In response, the lay board formally appealed to the Holy See
. That appeal was denied. However, the archdiocese does not dispute that the deed to the church property itself belongs not to the archdiocese but to the parish corporation; what is disputed is the membership of that corporation, and how they are to be chosen.
In August 2004 Burke removed both priests from the parish
and transferred the Polish
ministry to St. John the Apostle
and Evangelist parish
across from St. Louis Union Station. When the priests left the parish, they took with them much of the property of the parish, including the hymnals, missals, song books, and parish records. In January 2005 Burke threatened the members of the parish board of directors with an interdict
if they did not comply with his instructions by February 4, 2005. On February 10, 2005, the lay board had still not complied, and the archbishop
issued an interdict
against the board members, stating that they "knowingly, deliberately and publicly damaged seriously the unity of the Church."
As of February 25, 2005, Burke's reorganization plan for parishes in south St. Louis
City permanently changed the personal parish for Polish
Catholics in St. Louis
to the nearby church of St. Agatha, the move to which was completed on July 1, 2005.
In December 2005, the lay board announced plans to hire a priest
of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, the Rev. Marek B. Bozek, who was thereupon suspended by his bishop
, the Most Reverend John Joseph Leibrecht
, for leaving his post without permission. In response to the action of the board, on December 16, 2005, Burke declared that Father Bozek and the lay board members (Dr. Joseph Rudawski and Messrs. John Baras, William Bialczak, Edward Florek, Stanley Novak, and John Robert Zabielski), by their actions, were guilty of the ecclesiastical crime
, or delict
, of schism
from the Roman Catholic Church
, an offense to which is automatically attached the penalty of excommunication
. In a letter to Catholics in the Archdiocese, he warned the faithful that they would be risking grave sin if they knowingly attempt to receive sacraments from a priest
who is in formal schism
; Archbishop Burke also announced his intention to suppress the parish
. Following this announcement, a sizeable crowd attended the first Mass to be celebrated by the new pastor, on Christmas Eve 2005. Subsequently, on December 29, 2005, Archbishop Burke canonically suppressed St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, since it now operates independently of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
On May 15, 2008, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a decree rejecting the recourse filed in March 2006 by Rev. Bozek and the other excommunicated Board members against the decrees of excommunication issued by Archbishop Burke on December 15, 2005. This decision on the part of the Vatican ratified the excommunications on the basis of the commission of schism being "evident" on the part of the excommunicated Board members.
In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI dismissed Rev. Marek Bozek from the clerical state.
In 2010 an offer to settle the lawsuit was made by the archdiocese. The offer would have left control of the property and assets in the congregation but brought the parish back into control of the archdiocese. However there was no guarantee the parish would not be closed in the future. The excommunicated priest, Marek Bozek, whose liberal views have become an issue, would have been required to depart. The settlement was rejected 257 to 185.
Under Marek Bozek's leadership the church, in a decaying St. Louis neighborhood, has grown to 500 despite 200 of the original parishioners leaving. Bozek's non-orthodox views include allowing priests to marry and permitting women and homosexuals to be ordained. Transmogrification of the issues from property to doctrinal issues has alienated traditional parish members and attracted new progressive congregants.
Stanislaus Kostka
Stanisław Kostka S.J. was a Polish novice of the Society of Jesus. In the Catholic Church as Saint Stanislaus Kostka....
Church is a former Catholic Church parish located in the city of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. It was established as a Catholic parish in 1880 to serve the Polish community in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. It is considered to be the best example of the opulent 'Polish Cathedral style
Polish Cathedral style
The Polish Cathedral architectural style is a North American genre of Catholic church architecture found throughout the Great Lakes and Middle Atlantic regions as well as in parts of New England...
' of architecture west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. The church is notable for a highly publicized dispute over control of the parish and its assets between the church's lay board of directors and the Archdiocese of St. Louis. In December 2005, the former Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke
Raymond Leo Burke
Raymond Leo Burke is an American Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church. He is the current Cardinal Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, having previously served as Archbishop of St...
declared the parish's board members and priest, Marek Bozek, excommunicated and announced his intention to suppress the parish, meaning that it would be disbanded, with the likelihood of the premises being sold. The church responded by holding a Christmas Eve Mass attended by 1,500-2,000 people. The church continues to be maintained and run as a not-for-profit corporation by church parishioners. In 2010 a settlement offer from the Archdiocese of St. Louis was rejected by a divided congregation.
Church history
In 1878, the Archdiocese of St. Louis authorized the construction of a parish to serve the city's growing Polish Catholic community. In 1880, construction began on St. Stanislaus Kostka. The church was built just north of Downtown St. Louis, in a neighborhood that at the time was home to a large number of Polish immigrants. Under a land deed signed by Archbishop Peter Kenrick in 1891, the parish property was assigned to a corporation under a pastor and lay board members to be continually appointed by the Archbishop (cf. Deed and Charter & Bylaws of 1891).In 1928, the church was damaged by a fire which destroyed the original center dome of the structure, but the other damage was repaired. In 1969, Cardinal Karol Wojtyla, Archbishop of Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, who would later become Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
, visited the parish during a trip to the United States. The building was listed as a City Landmark in 1976 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979.
The church continued to serve the Polish Catholic community in St. Louis even as the community dispersed from the surrounding neighborhood and the area deteriorated. By the 1970s, the parish buildings were severely deteriorated. The parishioners undertook a large scale restoration of the church building and began acquiring land surrounding the church. Later improvements included the construction of a Polish Heritage Center. By 2005, the church assets included 8 acres (32,374.9 m²) of land, and the board of trustees estimated the total value of the parish assets at $9.5 million.
Conflict with archdiocese
The controversy, involving both the control of the temporal goods of the parishParish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
and the spiritual authority of the archbishop, focused on whether the property and monetary assets would be controlled by a pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
appointed by the archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
, which is the canonical
Canonical
Canonical is an adjective derived from canon. Canon comes from the greek word κανών kanon, "rule" or "measuring stick" , and is used in various meanings....
norm, or by a lay board of directors who renounced the archbishop's authority over the members of the board. The controversy began under Cardinal John J. Glennon
John J. Glennon
John Joseph Glennon was an Irish American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of St. Louis from 1903 until his death in 1946, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1946.-Early life and ministry:...
and continued under the late Cardinal Joseph Ritter and his successors, the deceased Archbishop John May
John L. May
John Lawrence May was an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Mobile and Archbishop of St. Louis .-Early life and education:...
, Cardinal Justin Rigali, now of Philadelphia, and most recently under Archbishop Emeritus
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
Raymond Leo Burke
Raymond Leo Burke
Raymond Leo Burke is an American Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church. He is the current Cardinal Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, having previously served as Archbishop of St...
, who is now Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura
Apostolic Signatura
The Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura is the highest judicial authority in the Catholic Church...
and a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church. The present Archbishop of St. Louis, Robert James Carlson
Robert James Carlson
Robert James Carlson is an American clergyman of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the ninth and current Archbishop of St. Louis. He previously served as Auxiliary Bishop of St...
, is endeavoring to find an adequate compromise that satisfies canon law and all concerned parties, but the breakaway members rejected his latest proposal, though efforts are ongoing.
The current structure of the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
derives from one created in 1891. The current parish board has taken the position that the purpose of Burke's actions was to take control of the assets of the parish for primarily economic reasons. They note that the parish had sustained and restored itself without financial assistance from the Archdiocese and claimed that Burke intended to close the parish once he had control of it.
The archdiocese alleges that the lay board of directors, in the early 1980s, without permission from Archbishop May, changed the original 1891 bylaws, which stipulated that the lay board was to function solely as an advisory body to the pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
and thus under the archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
(cf. the Plenary Councils of Baltimore
Plenary Councils of Baltimore
The Plenary Councils of Baltimore were three national meetings of Roman Catholic bishops in the 19th century in Baltimore, Maryland.During the early history of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States all of the dioceses were part of one ecclesiastical province under the Archbishop of Baltimore...
). In the bylaws as changed, the authority of the pastor was revoked, putting all control of the parish in the hands of the lay board. Therefore, not long after his appointment, Burke mandated that the structure of the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
once again conform to canon law
Canon law (Catholic Church)
The canon law of the Catholic Church, is a fully developed legal system, with all the necessary elements: courts, lawyers, judges, a fully articulated legal code and principles of legal interpretation. It lacks the necessary binding force present in most modern day legal systems. The academic...
. In response, the lay board formally appealed to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. That appeal was denied. However, the archdiocese does not dispute that the deed to the church property itself belongs not to the archdiocese but to the parish corporation; what is disputed is the membership of that corporation, and how they are to be chosen.
In August 2004 Burke removed both priests from the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
and transferred the Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
ministry to St. John the Apostle
John the Apostle
John the Apostle, John the Apostle, John the Apostle, (Aramaic Yoħanna, (c. 6 - c. 100) was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was the son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of James, another of the Twelve Apostles...
and Evangelist parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
across from St. Louis Union Station. When the priests left the parish, they took with them much of the property of the parish, including the hymnals, missals, song books, and parish records. In January 2005 Burke threatened the members of the parish board of directors with an interdict
Interdict (Roman Catholic Church)
In Roman Catholic canon law, an interdict is an ecclesiastical censure that excludes from certain rites of the Church individuals or groups, who nonetheless do not cease to be members of the Church.-Distinctions in canon law:...
if they did not comply with his instructions by February 4, 2005. On February 10, 2005, the lay board had still not complied, and the archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
issued an interdict
Interdict (Roman Catholic Church)
In Roman Catholic canon law, an interdict is an ecclesiastical censure that excludes from certain rites of the Church individuals or groups, who nonetheless do not cease to be members of the Church.-Distinctions in canon law:...
against the board members, stating that they "knowingly, deliberately and publicly damaged seriously the unity of the Church."
As of February 25, 2005, Burke's reorganization plan for parishes in south St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
City permanently changed the personal parish for Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
Catholics in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
to the nearby church of St. Agatha, the move to which was completed on July 1, 2005.
In December 2005, the lay board announced plans to hire a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, the Rev. Marek B. Bozek, who was thereupon suspended by his bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
, the Most Reverend John Joseph Leibrecht
John Joseph Leibrecht
John Joseph Leibrecht is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Springfield-Cape Girardeau from 1984 to 2008.-Early life and ministry:...
, for leaving his post without permission. In response to the action of the board, on December 16, 2005, Burke declared that Father Bozek and the lay board members (Dr. Joseph Rudawski and Messrs. John Baras, William Bialczak, Edward Florek, Stanley Novak, and John Robert Zabielski), by their actions, were guilty of the ecclesiastical crime
Ecclesiastical crime
Ecclesiastical crime is the term used to refer to crimes related to the clergy where the crime is against canon law. Compare Civil law....
, or delict
Delict
In civil law, a delict is an intentional or negligent act which gives rise to a legal obligation between parties even though there has been no contract between them. Due to the large number of civil law systems in the world, it is hard to state any generalities about the concept...
, of schism
Schism (religion)
A schism , from Greek σχίσμα, skhísma , is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization or movement religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a break of communion between two sections of Christianity that were previously a single body, or to a division within...
from the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
, an offense to which is automatically attached the penalty of excommunication
Excommunication
Excommunication is a religious censure used to deprive, suspend or limit membership in a religious community. The word means putting [someone] out of communion. In some religions, excommunication includes spiritual condemnation of the member or group...
. In a letter to Catholics in the Archdiocese, he warned the faithful that they would be risking grave sin if they knowingly attempt to receive sacraments from a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
who is in formal schism
Schism (religion)
A schism , from Greek σχίσμα, skhísma , is a division between people, usually belonging to an organization or movement religious denomination. The word is most frequently applied to a break of communion between two sections of Christianity that were previously a single body, or to a division within...
; Archbishop Burke also announced his intention to suppress the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
. Following this announcement, a sizeable crowd attended the first Mass to be celebrated by the new pastor, on Christmas Eve 2005. Subsequently, on December 29, 2005, Archbishop Burke canonically suppressed St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, since it now operates independently of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
On May 15, 2008, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a decree rejecting the recourse filed in March 2006 by Rev. Bozek and the other excommunicated Board members against the decrees of excommunication issued by Archbishop Burke on December 15, 2005. This decision on the part of the Vatican ratified the excommunications on the basis of the commission of schism being "evident" on the part of the excommunicated Board members.
In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI dismissed Rev. Marek Bozek from the clerical state.
Subsequent developments
The Archdiocese of St. Louis issued the following statement on July 23, 2008:Mrs. Bernice Krauze, Mr. Stanley Rozanski, and Mr. Robert Zabielski, members of the previous Board of Directors of Saint Stanislaus Parish Corporation, met last month (June 10) with Archbishop Raymond L. Burke to be reconciled fully with the Catholic Church. They are once again in full communion with the Roman Catholic Church and are no longer under any censure. Edward Florek was reconciled fully with the Roman Catholic Church in 2008 and is in full communion. He is no longer under any censure.
Since then, the three have joined other ex-parishioners of the former Saint Stanislaus Kostka parish in filing a lawsuit against the Saint Stanislaus Parish Corporation. The lawsuit is asking for the corporation to adhere to the 1891 Bylaws, to which the parish and the Archdiocese of St. Louis had agreed. If the lawsuit is successful, the Archdiocese of St. Louis is prepared to appoint a Catholic priest, Rev. Michael Marchlewski, S.J., to Saint Stanislaus as administrator.
In 2010 an offer to settle the lawsuit was made by the archdiocese. The offer would have left control of the property and assets in the congregation but brought the parish back into control of the archdiocese. However there was no guarantee the parish would not be closed in the future. The excommunicated priest, Marek Bozek, whose liberal views have become an issue, would have been required to depart. The settlement was rejected 257 to 185.
Under Marek Bozek's leadership the church, in a decaying St. Louis neighborhood, has grown to 500 despite 200 of the original parishioners leaving. Bozek's non-orthodox views include allowing priests to marry and permitting women and homosexuals to be ordained. Transmogrification of the issues from property to doctrinal issues has alienated traditional parish members and attracted new progressive congregants.