Archbishop transfers Polish ministry

Here is today's article from the St. Louis Review about St. Stanislaus.

More Letters...

Archbishop has wrong priorities
The Aug. 4 article on the temporary closing of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church was one of the most disturbing pieces I've read recently.

I am dumbfounded that Archbishop Raymond Burke places greater emphasis on the financial protocols of the archdiocese than on the importance of people coming together to worship God.

Although I am not a parishioner of St. Stanislaus, I recognize the value of the church and the role it plays in our community.

First, it is one of the remaining sanctuaries in north St. Louis. Second, it binds those of Polish decent closely to their traditions and beliefs, yet welcomes those of other nationalities to worship as well.

Most important, the people of St. Stanislaus have worked together to sustain the church through the years for the sole purpose of having a place to worship together, which is a testament to what faith can accomplish.

I'm struggling to comprehend how focusing on financial procedures ties in with the mission of Jesus and the Catholic Church. I think Archbishop Burke needs to re-evaluate his priorities and remove the obstacles he is establishing to prevent people from worshipping.

Berta Simic
Kirkwood

A lack of one's comprehension of the issue does not indicate that the Archbishop is incorrect. Archbishop Burke fully addressed the issue here.

And then we have this:

Using religion
I am insulted at the statement in the Aug. 4 article about President Bush visiting the Knights of Columbus Convention in Dallas that John Kerry "does better with less-observant Catholics."

I am Catholic, and consider myself "observant." However, I support Kerry for president. The reasons are many and are not really important. I go to Mass every week, I say my prayers just as well as any other Catholic.

Just because I believe in the separation of church and state does not mean I am "less-observant." I also do not believe in the death penalty, a fact that Bush conveniently has forgotten, I guess.

I am sickened at Bush's latest attempt to use whatever it takes - in this case religion - to divide our country.

Tamara Whitman
Collinsville

And as a matter of fact, "I'm more Catholic than the Pope!" Poor woman. She apparently believes in whatever happens to be convenient and easy - Following Christ requires sacrifice. It's more than making a weekly Sunday appearance at church. It means following the way of the Cross with all the hardships and struggles that go with it. It means abiding in God's truth. It means accepting all of the truth - even that which we may find difficult.

'It is clear that the Catholic voter has to be opposed to procured abortion. Anybody who votes for a candidate who supports or favors procured abortion because the candidate favors procured abortion cooperates in evil." (Archbishop Burke)

Letters here.

Bishops' abortion decision sparks debate (poll)

Roman Catholics took sides Thursday, the day after three Southeastern bishops barred politicians who support abortion rights from receiving Holy Communion.

All that priests, politicians and parishioners have in common is passion for their position.

Article and an online Poll here.

POLL Results as of this morning.
Should Catholics allow abortion supporters to receive communion?
Yes 191 votes (51%)
No 182 votes (49%)

373 people have voted so far.

Archbishop Raymond L. Burke, the new ‘John Fisher’

Barbara Kralis conducted an interview recently with Archbishop Burke while he was on vacation and she asked six questions which he answered:

Question:  Dear Archbishop Burke, regarding Cardinal Ratzinger’s June 2004 memorandum, were the contents of the memo made known to you and the other bishops at the Denver meeting?

 

Archbishop Burke:  “It certainly was not made known to me and I do not believe it was given to the other bishops.  Cardinal McCarrick referred to the memorandum.  We were told that, according to Cardinal Ratzinger, the application of the Canon 915 was up to the prudent judgment of each bishop.  The text of the memorandum would have been very helpful at the meeting in Denver.  Knowing now about the memo, I am disappointed it was not given to us at the meeting of the Bishops’ Conference,” said Archbishop Burke.

 

Question:  The Bishops’ Denver Statement reads:

 

“Bishops can legitimately make different judgments on the most prudent course of pastoral action.” 

 

Does this mean that one Bishop can deny Senator John Kerry Holy Communion and another Bishop can give Kerry Communion and both Bishops are correct?

 

Archbishop Burke:  “No, in fact, Canon 915 must be applied.  It does not give an option.  Canon 915 says that those persons who obstinately persist in grave manifest sin must be denied the Eucharist.  I strongly believe that if a bishop has spoken to someone who obstinately persists in grave manifest sin and he still presents himself for Holy Communion, he should be refused.”

 

Question:  Cardinal McCarrick received a letter dated July 9, 2004, from Cardinal Ratzinger saying:

 

“The ‘Statement’ is very much in harmony with the memorandum’s general principles, ‘Worthiness to receive Holy Communion,’ sent as a fraternal service – to clarify the doctrine of the Church on this specific issue – in order to assist the American Bishops in their related discussion and determinations.” 

 

Is it your understanding that Cardinal Ratzinger agreed that some ‘ministers of Holy Communion’ should admit John Kerry and that some should not admit him?

 

Archbishop Burke:  “That is not my understanding.” [vi]

 

Question:  In the Denver Statement, the fifth paragraph reads: 

 

“Our obligation as bishops at this time is to teach clearly.” 

 

Can one bishop admit and another bishop not admit?  Is this teaching clearly?  Is it not a contradiction of Canon 915, for one bishop to refuse John Kerry the Eucharist in one diocese and for another bishop to give John Kerry the Eucharist in another diocese?

 

Archbishop Burke:  “Yes, it would be a source of confusion.  I have refused to talk about individual candidates, but when a ‘Catholic’ pro-abortion politician knows the actions he has taken are gravely sinful in a public matter like supporting abortion, the only way to uphold church teaching is to withhold Holy Communion.  It is not right for one ‘minister of Holy Communion’ to give the Eucharist and another not to.”

 

Question:  Is it your understanding that the ‘Task Force’s’ work is completed.  Cardinal Ratzinger’s July 9 letter assumed that the ‘Task Force’ has not decided yet.[vii]

 

Archbishop Burke:  “I understood from the meeting that the work of the ‘Task Force’ was not completed and we would be given another report at our November 2004 meeting.  I do not know if there will be another vote.  Normally there is a vote to accept and not to accept.”

 

Question:  What can you tell us now about the ‘Note Bene’ statement of Cardinal Ratzinger’s at the end of his June memorandum?  In it, he states that ‘proportionalism’ or voting for ‘the lesser of two evils’ is acceptable.  Do you think it is possible to end abortion by always voting for the lesser evil candidate?  How would this apply to Pope Paul VI who stated? 

 

“Though it is true that sometimes it is lawful to tolerate a lesser moral evil in order to avoid a greater evil or in order to promote a greater good," it is never lawful, even for the gravest reasons, to do evil that good may come of it [viii]—in other words, to intend directly something which of its very nature contradicts the moral order, and which must therefore be judged unworthy of man, even though the intention is to protect or promote the welfare of an individual, of a family or of society in general.” [ix]

 

Archbishop Burke:  “It is clear that the Catholic voter has to be opposed to procured abortion.  Anybody who votes for a candidate who supports or favors procured abortion because the candidate favors procured abortion cooperates in evil.[x]

 

“A host of considerations enter in the decision to vote for a particular candidate.  The voter must be opposed to procured abortion and do everything as a voter to decrease the evil of abortion and eliminate it.

 

“If the Catholic voter votes for a candidate who is in favor of procured abortion, while the voter is clearly opposed to it, there must be some serious reason to justify such a vote.

 

“As Cardinal Ratzinger said, in his June memorandum, such a vote is ‘remote material cooperation,’ which can be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons. 

 

His position is not proportionalism, for the voter remains steadfastly opposed to procured abortion and works to eliminate abortion in society and its protection by the law.”

 

Question:  Thank you very much for granting this interview.

 

Archbishop Burke:  You are welcome, and please pray for me.

Complete article here.

St. Stanislaus Update

Members of the St. Stanislaus church in North St. Louis say they will not go without a fight. A meeting is scheduled Thursday night for members to decide how to respond to this week's temporary shutdown. That meeting is at the Polish Heritage Center at the church.

Organizers tell FOX 2 News it will be between the board of directors at St. Stanislaus and the congregation. The main topic of discussion will be what to do this Sunday.

The Archdiocese on Tuesday removed the two priests at the church effectively shutting down the church temporarily. The move after an ongoing controversy between St. Stanislaus and the Archdiocese over how the parish is run including financial control.

The boiling point apparently came after the board of directors ordered the Archdiocesan priest to turn over anything related to the church's finances to them--from priests (sic) stipends to parish electrical bills.

The church has always operated independent of the Archdiocese. Archbishop Raymond Burke says that can't continue. The Archdiocese has arranged for [M]ass to be held in [P]olish this Sunday at St. John the Apostle and Evangelist downtown for the congregation. St. Stanislaus has controlled its own finances since 1891.

Just a reminder that the traditional Sunday mass in polish is no longer being held at St. Stanislaus. It's been moved to St. John the Apostle and Evangelist downtown. St. Stanislaus church members will still meet at their church Sunday morning for a prayer service and support meeting at 10:00am.

Source Fox2KTVI.

On the report this evening, there was talk by some in the congregation to leave the Catholic Church. There was also some discussion of trying to get a couple of Franciscan priests from Poland to come here. Please pray for Archbishop Burke and the people of St. Stanislaus so that God may allow reason to prevail and that the church may be fully incorporated into the archdiocese.

Judge Legalizes Same-Sex "Marriage" for Washington State

This is precisely one of the primary reasons that Missouri voters were given the chance to vote on a constitutional amendment - to prevent judicial activists from usurping the rights of the people of the state.

A Seattle judge ruled Wednesday that denying same-sex couples the right to marriage defies the constitution.

The decision by King County Superior Court Judge William Downing will be stayed until the Washington State Supreme Court studies the ruling. No marriage licences will be issued until the Supreme Court review.

Washington state's current official definition of marriage is the union of a man and woman.

But we were told by the homosexual lobby that we didn't need a constitutional amendment as Missouri Law specified the same thing. The smokescreen didn't work here, praise God!

Article.

Various Letters regarding the Amendment to protect marriage...

...which many are calling the "Gay" marriage ban. Merely because the constitutional amendment affirms the natural law in that marriage is a union of a man and a woman, some see the word 'ban' where it does not exist. Some claim that their 'rights' are being denied - rights which appear to include the crime of sodomy.

Here are some excerpts from the letters:

How embarrassing that Missouri put bigotry into our state constitution.

As a new Missourian, I am disappointed in the passage of the same-gender marriage ban.

I mean if we're going to legislate morality, let's just do the whole thing. No divorce, criminalize adultery, ban drinking, ban swearing or working on Sundays.

For the first time in my life, I am ashamed to be have been born and raised in this state.

Read them here. The letters are decent examples of one's inability to reason or think in a rational manner.

Church plans to meet on Burke's action

Members of St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church plan to meet at 7 p.m. today to discuss Archbishop Raymond Burke's removal of its two priests in the continuing dispute over operations of the parish.

Spokesmen for the parish's lay board of directors said Wednesday that it will hold a prayer service at 10 a.m. Sunday at the church, at 1413 North 20th Street, just northwest of downtown. Because Burke removed both priests, the parish cannot celebrate Mass.

Burke sent a letter to parishioners on Tuesday informing them that the Rev. Philip J. Bene, the pastor, and the Rev. Adam Hurbanczuk will reside at St. John the Apostle and Evangelist downtown until St. Stanislaus' board "conforms to church law." Burke did so after the parish board told Bene that it had "reclaimed its authority" over parish funds.

Burke contends that St. Stanislaus' structure as a nonprofit group run by a lay board is contrary to church law. The board and some parishioners have resisted Burke's instructions to reform in a standard parish structure, saying they operated with the Catholic church's approval since 1891.

Roger Krasnicki, parish board spokesman, said the board plans to appeal Burke's instructions and is considering legal action.

The canonical structure has always been a problem but some would think that if a problem is ignored, it will disappear. News reports have indicated that the board is to retain a lawyer to fight the Archdiocese over this.

Archbishop Burke explained the entire situation in an article in the St. Louis Review some time ago in which the concerns the board keeps bringing up were addressed by him - but that seems to mean nothing for some who are more concerned with 'control' rather than obedience.

Source.

Reactions to Bishops' statement

"I am Catholic, but I am also a Democrat, so . . . it puts me in a tough position," said Georgia state Rep. Pedro Marin (D-Duluth). "I have to be pro-choice because that's the Democratic position."

Why doesn't he just say, "Because the devil made me do it." This is an excuse a child would use, not an adult. And this is to say nothing about the fact that his party loyalty is more important than his fidelity to Christ.

Marin said he was not sure whether he would continue to try to take Communion. "I will have to see if the Catholic religion still fills me up, spiritually," he said.

Again, it's all about "ME"...too many have forgotten why they even attend Mass.
Source.

And here's another:

National pro-choice Catholic groups called the Southern bishops' statement shocking because it goes beyond denying Communion. They found especially troublesome the requirement that politicians must publicly disavow abortion and get a bishop's permission to resume taking Communion.

"This is pretty draconian," said Frances Kissling, president of the Washington-based Catholics For a Free Choice.

"It certainly does not seem to be a mainstream strategy. The overwhelming majority of Catholic people do not believe it is appropriate for a bishop to use Communion as a political sledgehammer to gain obedience."

I don't understand why this woman is not formally and publicly excommunicated as an apostate of the faith.

This article here.

Worthy to Receive the Lamb: Catholics in Political Life and the Reception of Holy Communion

The full text of the letter from Archbishop Donoghue, Bishop Baker and Bishop Jugis can be viewed here at the Archdiocese of Atlanta web site.

Bishop Sheridan bishop urges protection of marriage

Marriage was created by God and must not be used to promote a "homosexual political agenda," Colorado Springs Bishop Michael Sheridan writes in the August issue of the diocesan newspaper.

What's more, civil authorities "should consider it a sacred duty" to acknowledge man-woman marriage and protect it against the movement to legalize same-sex unions, Sheridan writes in his monthly column, which appears today in The Catholic Herald.

Article here.

Institute of Christ the King to St. Louis?

I have been hearing more and more rumors that the Institute of Christ the King, Sovereign Priest is coming to St. Louis. I have also heard that the Canons Regular of the New Jerusalem are coming here.

Hopefully, this will be confirmed soon...I will pass along any confirmed information as soon as I receive it.

Some "Catholics" opposed to Amendment 2

In reviewing the "Constitiution Defense League" web site and looking over the names of the "Faith Community Opposed to Amendment 2", the constitutional amendment to preserve marriage as an institution reserved to a man and a woman, I was more than a bit surprised to see the names of some Catholics on the list, particularly after the Missouri Bishops had, in recent weeks, expressed their concerns about upholding the sanctity of marriage.

Some of the more obvious names I saw were:

Rev. Gerald J. Kleba
(Pastor of St. Cronan's Catholic Church, St. Louis, a past Senior Associate Pastor at my parish)

Sister Barbara Ann Barbato
Sisters of Loretto

Claire McCaskill
State Auditor

Mayor Francis Slay
St. Louis, MO

Source

Have a look and see who I missed.

More Absurdities from the Sound Off Column

Church and voting

If the Catholic Church can tell its members not to vote for those politicians who support pro-choice, mainly Democrats, then it should also tell its members not to vote for those who support the concealed gun laws, mainly Republicans. Actually, the Catholic Church has no right at all to tell anyone how to vote.

Link

The individual fails to distinquish anything which is intrinsically evil about guns or about carrying a concealed gun. But then, there is confusion in the individual's assertion about "how to vote". Even the polling place workers instruct new voters "how to vote". The Church informs the faithful how to apply Catholic moral teaching in voting - not for whom to vote.

It's unfortunate that so many people do not follow through to the logical conclusions in their thinking - if they did, perhaps, they might be less prone to speak out.

Detroit parish to celebrate Tridentine Mass

Detroit Cardinal Adam Maida is reaching back 40 years to revive a traditional form of the Latin mass, and he's hoping its unusual appeal will help save one of Detroit's most famous Catholic churches, St. Josaphat.

Starting Oct. 3, Sunday morning worship will jump back to an earlier era in this church whose soaring steeple is framed against the Renaissance Center from the perspective of thousands of commuters each day on southbound I-75 at Canfield.

How long have some people waited?

"When the pope authorized bishops to allow this mass in 1984, the idea was that this was a pastoral response to older people who still are so attached to this older mass that they need it," Rev. Thomas Reese, editor of America Magazine, said Monday. "The idea was never to create a new desire in people for this mass."

Hmmm....His version of Ecclesia Dei must have been a different than the one I read. I'm certain that some in Detroit are truly thankful. Perhaps this will be an impetus of things to come?

Article here

Three more Bishops forbid Holy Communion to politicians supporting abortion

Because of the influence that Catholics in public life have on the conduct of our daily lives and on the formation of our nation's future, we declare that Catholics serving in public life espousing positions contrary to the teaching of the Church on the sanctity and inviolability of human life, especially those running for or elected to public office are not to be admitted to Holy Communion in any Catholic church within our jurisdictions: the Archdiocese of Atlanta, the Dioceses of Charleston and Charlotte. Only after reconciliation with the Church has occurred, with the knowledge and consent of the local bishop, and public disavowal of former support for procured abortion, will the individual be permitted to approach the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

We undertake this action to safeguard the sacred dignity of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, to reassure the faithful, and to save sinners.

Most Reverend John F. Donoghue
Archbishop of Atlanta

Most Reverend Robert J. Baker
Bishop of Charleston

Most Reverend Peter J. Jugis
Bishop of Charlotte

Article here.

Missouri voters protect Marriage

Missouri voters gave resounding approval to an amendment to the state constitution banning gay marriage, putting the nation on notice that similar proposed bans in other states could be difficult to defeat.

The Missouri Constitution will now state that ``to be valid and recognized in this state a marriage shall exist only between a man and a woman.''

Article

Archbishop Burke removes St. Stanislaus priests

Archbishop Raymond Burke said he had temporarily removed two priests from St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church in a letter to parishioners today...

In his letter, Burke said previously scheduled weddings and funeral Masses will be allowed to continue at St. Stanislaus, but that no priest may celebrate Mass in the church without his consent. He said he will not assign another priest to the parish until the board "conforms to Church discipline."

Link here.

There is a copy of the letter floating around somewhere - maybe one of the media outlets will post it later.

St Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church temporarily shut down

From Fox 2 KTVI Television:

There is a startling development in the battle over a historic St. Louis Polish Catholic Church. Archbishop Raymond Burke has in effect temporarily shut down St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, moving it's priests to another church.

In a letter to parishioners on Tuesday, the Archbishop says the move is in response to recent actions by the St. Stanislaus board. Unlike other parishes, that board owns the church and runs its finances independently of the Archdiocese. [Archbishop] Burke says the board's recent demand that the parish priests immediately turn over any and all financial matters from priest stipends to electrical bills is an affront to the Archdiocese and "common decency".

So the priests and the Catholic [M]asses are moving. The Archdiocese will continue its parish ministries at St. John the Apostle and Evangelist Church downtown beginning this Sunday. [Archbishop] Burke is out of town attending religious conferences through Thursday.

They had to know this was coming. Archbishop Burke is committed to bringing all parishes into conformity with canonical regulations. It is unfortunate that the board of St. Stanislaus has rejected attempts to regularize the parish within the archdiocese.

This issue has been in and out of the news for at least the last five months. Certainly if nothing was done, it might have continued for many more years. It is an issue which should have resolved many years ago, but like so many other 'hard decisions', it appears to have been left to someone who had the courage to do what is required of him.

Illinois Usurps Rights of Parents

Dom Bettinelli had posted an article on "More Nanny Government".
This intrusion into the legitimate rights of parents is, frankly, orwellian.

This past spring, the Illinois General Assembly passed a new bill requiring compulsory mental health screening for children and pregnant women; it was signed into law by Governor Blagojevich. This program will require all pregnant women and children through the age of 18 be tested for mental health needs.

Source.

Something is wrong with the government bureaucracy there, or with the people of the state, or both.