Archbishop Burke Seeks Unified St. Stanislaus Parish

Archbishop Raymond L. Burke is asking members of St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish to tell the parish’s board of directors of their desire that the parish be fully Catholic — following the model of all the parishes of the archdiocese.

The archbishop recently wrote a letter to parishioners of St. Stanislaus regarding their decisions on the future of the parish. He also addressed the matter in his homily at a Mass for Polish immigrants at St. John Apostle and Evangelist Church Downtown.

The archbishop told the Review Jan. 5 that he’d written a confidential letter to the board of directors of St. Stanislaus discussing possible disciplinary action.

"I’m under an obligation to do what the Congregation for the Clergy (in the Vatican) has instructed me to do, plus I have an obligation to the parishioners of St. Stanislaus. I had no choice but to apply some discipline in the matter," the archbishop said.

He said the imposition of an interdict is considered more "medicinal" than "punitive."

In the interview and in his letter, Archbishop Burke said he will take three steps to assure parishioners of his commitment. The steps are to place all assets of the parish in an irrevocable charitable trust, enforceable by the state attorney general; establish an endowment fund within the trust to ensure the maintenance of parish property; and conduct an independent public audit to provide assurance of responsible financial management.

Full story at the St. Louis Review.