Archbishop Burke Begins Process to Laicize Marek Bozek

As a followup to this post, here is the Post Dispatch's take on the excommunicated St Stanislaus priest, Marek Bozek...

ST. LOUIS — Archbishop Raymond Burke has begun the process of defrocking the pastor at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church.

Rev. Marek Bozek, 32 and a native of Poland, said Monday that he received a letter from Burke last week, informing him that he should present himself before the archbishop for "canonical admonition."

In the letter, Burke said he's begun the process of laicization, or being "dismissed from the clerical state," for Bozek. The letter cited Bozek's participation in schism at the church that has been locked in a battle with the archdiocese over control of its assets and his public support for, and participation in, an ordination ceremony of two Catholic women last year....

In the letter to Bozek, Burke said the priest must repent, apologize, do public penance and return to his own diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.

Burke declared Bozek excommunicated in late 2005, after Bozek left his parish in Springfield and agreed to pastor St. Stanislaus....

Bozek said his canon lawyer was "looking for options," but said he was "very open to conversation and dialogue with the archbishop. I'm willing to hear what he has to say."

It's unfortunate that this statement cannot reasonably be considered to be true if one is to review all of the previous statements made by Bozek and others with whom he collaborates.

"My definition of compromise is that I move two steps and he move two steps and we meet in the middle," Bozek said. "But his definition is that I move four steps and he stands immovable like a rock."

The fact remains (review the 200+ previous posts) that the Archbishop has gone well beyond what many would do to accomodate this rebellious "hired" priest and his obstinate employers, the St Stanislaus board of directors.

Unless there has been a change of heart, there is really no desire for compromise - only a desire that the archbishop confirm them in their sinful and scandalous disobedience and rebellion.

The article confirms that Bozek attended and assisted the recent sham "ordination" of two women as priestesses last November. That a professed Catholic priest would engage is such activity is morally and spiritually reprehensible and goes beyond scandalous - One wonders how many of his 'parishioners' would condone such behavior? One wonders just how many of his 'parishioners' are really Catholic?

For previous St Stanislaus postings, click here.

For the Post Dispatch article, click here.