Bishop Leibrecht defends suspension of AWOL priest

Springfield, Dec. 06, 2005 (CNA) - Bishop John Leibrecht of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, MO, is defending his decision to suspend a priest who left his post--despite the bishop’s orders--to serve at a dissident St. Louis parish.

Fr. Marek Bozek, a native Polish priest and associate pastor of St. Agnes Cathedral, decided last week to leave his own diocese to serve at St. Stanislaus Kostka Polish parish in St. Louis.

Link here

In addition, here is some more information regarding Fr. Bozek...Some might see him as "progressive"...others might view his actions as those of a dissident...

Listed in some older bulletins as the Associate Pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church, in Seneca, Missouri; as well as Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church in Noel, MO. and St Canera Catholic Church in Neosho, MO. (See the bulletins for St. Mary's for more info.)
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More recently listed as Associate Pastor for Saint Agnes Cathedral and Parish
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A Catholic Perspective on Religious Fundamentalism
Father Marek B. Bozek
Monday, November 28 @ 5pm
PSU 308 A, B and C.
Hosted by: Unity in Alternative Religions on Campus

The Vatican recently released a statement affirming Catholicism’s long standing belief in the validity of evolution. Meanwhile, Protestant groups are making headlines around the country, introducing Intelligent Design as an alternative to evolution in science classrooms.

How did these two deeply spiritual, faith based groups develop such different conclusions from the same religious texts? These questions, as well as several other important contemporary issues arise from the way people of faith read their scriptures. Join us to learn various perspectives in interpretation of religious text.

Before receiving his Masters in Divinity from St. Meinrad School of Theology, Marek Bozek concurrently studied Protestant and Catholic theology at the Christian Theological Academy and the Catholic University in Warsaw, Poland. While in America, he studied Liberation Theology at Presbyterian Seminary in Louisville Kentucky. Marek is fluent in English, Spanish, and Polish.

Unity in Alternative Religions on Campus was created in May of 2000, and is an education based discussion group for religious topics. UnityARC does not endorse any one single worldview or spiritual path. Regular meetings are on Mondays at 5pm in room 314A.

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A signatory (and supporter?) of The International Lesbian and Gay Association is a world-wide network of national and local groups dedicated to achieving equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) people everywhere.
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Mother Barbara Beam of St. Nicholas, Noel, and Father Marek Bozek of Nativity of Our Lord (Roman Catholic), Noel, and members of those churches, came together for the blessing of the new fire, the lighting of the Paschal Candles, and the chanting of the Exsultet at this year’s Easter Vigil. As a sign of Christian unity, the two congregations also exchanged Paschal Candles, and also participated in an exchange of the peace before members of Nativity processed back to their church. The two churches also sponsored a joint parish retreat during Lent and look forward to other events in their growing friendship.

As printed in the June 2004 issue of the West Missouri Spirit, a newsletter for the Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri(PDF Link here)
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And some might want to read his homily of November 6 (last month)
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