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  Archbishop of St. Louis Has Started Process of Stipping Father Marek Bozek of His Priestly Duties

KSDK
March 5, 2008

http://www.ksdk.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=141626

[with video]

The Archbishop of St. Louis has begun the process of dismissing the pastor at St. Stanislaus from the clerical state.

It's similar to a medical board taking away a license from a doctor to practice medicine.

This all started back when Father Marek Bozek left a Springfield, Missouri parish without permission to minister at St. Stanislaus.


Father Bozek and the Archbishop were supposed to meet on Wednesday, but Father Bozek refused at the last minute. He said, "I will not subject myself any longer to the humiliation and unfair process that he calls penal process."

Father Bozek said he is being punished for supporting women as priests, marriage for priests and by giving communion to non-Catholics. Things that Archbishop Raymond Burke said go against the Catholic Church and thereby has no choice but to start the process of dismissing him from the clergy.

Archbishop Burke said, "It increases my sadness over the whole situation of Father Bozek that he shows another sign of contempt for requirements of communion with the church. In doing so he is taking himself farther and farther away from the Catholic Church."

But Father Bozek said his ordination as a priest can never be taken away and he intends to stay in St. Louis for years to come. He said, "I intend to minister to the people of St. Stanislaus and I intend to invite even more Catholics from the Diocese to join us."

Archbishop Burke said the sacraments Father Bozek performed since coming to St. Stan are invalid. Burke said, "All the confessions he's heard are invalid, all the sacraments of confirmation he conferred are also invalid."

Father Bozek said he has always been upfront with church members about being ex-communicated and not in good standing. He said, "They say this is not what worries us. This is the reason why we are here and asking you to do our marriage."

Father Bozek said if the St. Louis Archbishop doesn't want him, he claimed several other unnamed Bishops in good standing have already approached him to join their jurisdictions. Archbishop Burke replied, "I don't know who these supposed Catholic Bishops are but I can tell you this, they can't be Bishops in good standing."

The process of dismissal could take 6 months to a year. The final deicision rests with the vatican.

 
 

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