Archbishop Trusts ‘God’s Grace’ for Priest’s Reconciliation

Archbishop Raymond L. Burke said Feb. 5 that he is "safeguarding the unity of the Church" by insisting that a suspended and excommunicated priest associated with the St. Stanislaus Kostka Corp. meet with him.

Father Marek Bozek was suspended in December 2005 by the bishop of the Diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau for abandoning his assignment and his diocese. The St. Stanislaus Kostka Corp. hired him for the position of pastor of their church, which had served people of Polish heritage but is no longer a part of the Roman Catholic Church.

Archbishop Burke said he has been hearing from Catholics who are concerned about the sacraments they are receiving from Father Bozek. Because of the priest’s status, any sacraments of Penance and Confirmation he performed or any marriages he has witnessed are considered invalid.

In addition, Father Bozek participated in the attempted ordination of two women and has been making statements contrary to Church teachings, according to archdiocesan officials. The purpose of Feb. 5 meeting with him was to urge him to return to his home diocese and seek reconciliation.

And everyone is, by now, aware of Marek's Bozek's tendered offer to the Archbishop...

As it stands now, Father Bozek does not represent Catholic teaching and practice, Archbishop Burke said.

"I can’t imagine that lifelong Polish Catholics who are associated with the former St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish agree that their priest, for instance, should take part in the attempted ordination of two women to the priesthood. Or accept that their priest believes that divorce and remarriage without a declaration of nullity should be accepted. Or are pleased that their priest is rebelling against Church authority in general."

Indeed, it is difficult to imagine this - yet over 100 people showed up to support this man...Incredible!

Father Bozek’s failure to seek reconciliation with the Church "would necessitate my taking further canonical action in order to keep him from continuing to bring spiritual harm to his own soul and to the soul of others," the archbishop said. That step would be the process for dismissal from the clerical state.
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He said he trusts in the help of God’s grace that "the situation will be rectified and also there will be a healing."
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The archdiocese is offering assistance to those who have invalidly received the sacraments of Penance or Confirmation or had their marriage invalidly witnessed by Father Bozek.