St. Stanislaus panel faces deadline today in dispute

Actually, this story is probably for tomorrow's edition - I think it was posted early...

Today, Joseph Rudawski and his five co-directors - the parking lot owner, a Boeing Co. manager, a former doughnut shop owner, a sewer worker and a part-time bus driver - face the rare and harsh Roman Catholic church law penalty of interdict, similar to excommunication in that it would mean the men would become barred from partaking in the sacraments of the church, including Holy Communion.

"I'm being unjustly crucified, and I've done nothing wrong," Rudawski said. "That's why I keep fighting this."

This seems like a strange choice of words, considering that the board has engaged in public acts of defiance and disobedience. As I said earlier today, the silence the past couple of weeks may be a sign of hope.

"The [A]rchbishop wants to leave all his options open, even if it's clear that the interdiction deadline is going to pass," archdiocesan spokesman Jamie Allman said. "While he said he was obliged to issue the interdiction, he feels he may also be obliged to give it more time."

This could be a signal of good will and of hope of a resolution, especially if there is some progress being made...However...

With the deadline approaching, members of the St. Stanislaus board appeared this week to be united in their continued defiance of the [A]rchbishop.

On Tuesday night, the six board members got together for their monthly meeting. At one point, someone said that if anyone wanted to resign from the board because of the threat of interdict, they were free to get up and walk away without fearing any judgment from the others...They sat there for a second, he said, "and no one moved."

Many parents understand the consequences of failing to discipline their children for grave acts of defiance and disobedience. Left unchecked, it serves to reinforce the bad behavior. Other children, seeing that such acts are not punished, may be encouraged to follow suit in order to have their way as well - merely because it worked with their siblings. Before long, the parents have a major dilemma on their hands which could have been mitigated by properly addressing the matter early on.

I have no doubt that Archbishop Burke will do what must be done for the good of the Archdiocese and the Church. I do have doubts about the board members of St. Stanislaus do what is right since they appear to be unrepentant and obstinate in their defiance of the Church and of Archbishop Burke. The example they set for Catholics in the Archdiocese and the general public, if the facts in the Post are true, is truly scandalous.

Post Dispatch article here.