St Stanislaus 'Pastor'- "Hero? Heretic? Parish Divided"

So the page 1 headline read in the early metro edition of the Sunday Post-Dispatch.

And seeing this, I paid the $1.50 for a hard copy version of the paper with the following picture of Marek Bozek by Emily Rasinski.

...For many St. Stanislaus parishioners whose ancestors had built the church just north of downtown, Bozek became a hero [Note: he became a 'hero' to the confused when he renounced his promise of obedience to his bishop and the Church and chose to be a "priest for hire."]

But more than two years later, Bozek has reshaped the church into a community that would be unrecognizable to those 19th-century founders....

The renegade priest supports women's "ordination" to the priesthood, allowing priests to marry and supports sodomy and sexual deviance [homosexual relationships]. Because of Bozek's apostasy - rejection of moral truths and the natural moral law, definitive teachings of the Church and disciplinary rules established by the Church, Bozek has attracted "hundreds of new St. Stanislaus parishioners who share the priest's reform-minded vision."

But this is nor reform, it's rebellion - not only against the Church but against God, Himself. Is there any wonder, then, why he attracts like-minded people to follow him in his attempt to take over a once proud Polish parish which appears to have lost control over its own destiny?

Bosek's "visions" of his church are not only antithetical to Catholicism, they are divisive even within the St Stanislaus parish.

... they have also divided the church, pitting newer members against traditional parishioners unhappy with how far the priest has gone in condemning the Roman Catholic church.

There have also been questions about the priest's trappings. He has negotiated a 143 percent salary hike, moved into a $157,000 Washington Avenue loft and leased a 2008 BMW for $450 per month.

Living at the rectory caused blood pressure problems - poor guy...

Some parishioners point to another sign that alarmed them: Bozek, while in Poland last year, bought a silver ring custom-made for a bishop there. When he returned, he showed the ring to his parish at a Sunday Mass and spoke about it from the pulpit.

Some are surprised that he hasn't formally declared himself pope yet, considering that he believes that his pontifications have more weight that the teachings of the Church.

St. Stanislaus "is now home to anyone who has a gripe with the (Catholic) church," said Stan Rozanksi, one of the men who vetted Bozek and a former board member.

This is precisely what happens when one collaborates in feeding the prideful inclinations and delusions of dissenters, heretics and schismatics. It can only get worse. Who treats the addict with more of the drugs to which he is addicted? Who continues to supply alcohol to the alcoholic? Only enablers do this! Bozek is surrounded by enablers who feed his ego, arrogance and rebellion.

This weekend, parishioners will vote to elect new board members. Bozek is confident that nearly all the candidates share his vision.

Hand picked, no doubt, from a the throngs of like-minded followers...

Bozek was supposed to be St. Stanislaus' savior. But for many longtime church members, it could be Archbishop Raymond Burke — the man they've been fighting for five years — who may save it.

A remarkably astute statement! For many, it seems that the devil always appears to be "The One" until they discover that things are not what they appeared.

As the membership has grown, so has tension among some parishioners, as Bozek continues to take stands that clash with Roman Catholic teaching. He has welcomed gays and divorced people into the church. In November 2006, he invited an openly gay pastor — the leader of a Catholic community separate from the Vatican — to celebrate Mass....

If it's separate from the Vatican, what makes it "Catholic"?

"The Roman Catholic family can be described today as dysfunctional, toxic or abusive," Bozek said. "For decades we have allowed the men who claim to be our shepherds to abuse us."

Reminds me of the speck and the mote...Bozek claims to be a shepherd yet he abuse the faithful with illicit and invalid sacraments and posits as truth erroneous teachings contrary to right reason and the moral law.

Richard Bach, who heads a group called the Concerned Parishioners of St. Stanislaus, said a large number of older members — about 100 families — had gradually come to oppose Bozek's leadership and the new members.

This is some of the best news I've heard since this St Stans fiasco has started. Readers of this blog know how many "conversations" were had with Mr. Bach and others over the actions being taken and the comments be made by the board and the spokesman. We should continue to pray for those involved in this matter.

"They're concerned about the path of the church and where he's leading them," Bach said. "A lot of the old parishioners don't consider the new ones parishioners at all."

They're not really parishioners - they've found a leader in their divisive and morally bankrupt causes - they're reinforcements for Bozek's complete takeover of St Stanislaus. Chances are they'll amend the bylaws even more to sever all ties with the Church and its proud Polish heritage, leaving the remaining true parishioners without a home...So very sad yet so predictable.

Bozek has already started making plans for his new parish:

In May, he said he'd been in talks with Married Priests Now! representatives. The organization is led by Archbishop Emmanuel Milingo, an excommunicated Zambian archbishop who is married. The group, funded by the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, promotes a married priesthood....

...he has been in discussions with Rose Marie Hudson and Elsie McGrath, the two women ordained as Roman Catholic Womenpriest clerics. They are co-pastors of a congregation of about 25 people called the Therese of Divine Peace Inclusive Community in St. Louis.

Bozek also has spoken with the Rev. Frank Krebs — pastor of the 90-member Sts. Clare & Francis in Webster Groves, which is separate from the Vatican — about joining Bozek's "underground" network.

It's a sad commentary to see a once thriving Catholic community devolve into a this...No doubt, many of the Polish Catholic faithful must be having nightmares over this.

Bozek said that he had been offered a bishop's position in two independent Catholic denominations, but that he wasn't interested in other groups. He wants to continue leading St. Stanislaus — and perhaps a movement with St. Stanislaus at its center.

Is this what the founders of St Stanislaus envisioned? Were they alive today, I'm certain we would be seeing the traitors of the faith being tossed out on their ears.

Pray for these poor souls.