Church plans to meet on Burke's action

Members of St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church plan to meet at 7 p.m. today to discuss Archbishop Raymond Burke's removal of its two priests in the continuing dispute over operations of the parish.

Spokesmen for the parish's lay board of directors said Wednesday that it will hold a prayer service at 10 a.m. Sunday at the church, at 1413 North 20th Street, just northwest of downtown. Because Burke removed both priests, the parish cannot celebrate Mass.

Burke sent a letter to parishioners on Tuesday informing them that the Rev. Philip J. Bene, the pastor, and the Rev. Adam Hurbanczuk will reside at St. John the Apostle and Evangelist downtown until St. Stanislaus' board "conforms to church law." Burke did so after the parish board told Bene that it had "reclaimed its authority" over parish funds.

Burke contends that St. Stanislaus' structure as a nonprofit group run by a lay board is contrary to church law. The board and some parishioners have resisted Burke's instructions to reform in a standard parish structure, saying they operated with the Catholic church's approval since 1891.

Roger Krasnicki, parish board spokesman, said the board plans to appeal Burke's instructions and is considering legal action.

The canonical structure has always been a problem but some would think that if a problem is ignored, it will disappear. News reports have indicated that the board is to retain a lawyer to fight the Archdiocese over this.

Archbishop Burke explained the entire situation in an article in the St. Louis Review some time ago in which the concerns the board keeps bringing up were addressed by him - but that seems to mean nothing for some who are more concerned with 'control' rather than obedience.

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