Archbishop censures Polish parish's board

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis' archbishop followed through on his decision to deny Roman Catholic sacraments to board members of a largely Polish church, the latest development in a long-simmering dispute over control of the parish.

The six board members of St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church here received via courier letters of interdict from Archbishop Raymond Burke on Thursday night, said parishioner Richard Bach, serving as a parish spokesman.

That means those recipients may not receive sacraments at any Catholic church, though board members have said they plan to ignore Burke's move and likely will appeal. The parish has refused requests from the archdiocese to turn over control of St. Stanislaus' governance and estimated $9.5 million in assets.

It was not immediately clear what would happen if any of the six tried to receive a sacrament. Archdiocesan spokesman Jamie Allman said priests have not been given any notice to deny the six sacraments.

Allman said the interdict was intended as a "medicinal approach," to reunify board members to the Roman Catholic church.

"This medicine is like a cup of strychnine," countered Roger Krasnicki, a spokesman for the parish's lay board of directors. Krasnicki is not a board member, so he does not face interdict.

Said Allman: "This isn't designed to poison or hurt anybody."

But Krasnicki said he and others are considering asking the archbishop to impose interdict on them as well, because the board is just carrying out the wishes of parishioners.

Parishioners want stronger protections for the parish, its church buildings and other assets. They voted 299-5 last month against surrendering control.

Burke removed the parish's two priests and forbade Masses at the church in August.

On Sunday, the parish will hold a prayer service at 9:30 a.m., followed by a public meeting.

St. Stanislaus was established by Polish immigrants, and in 1891, an archbishop deeded the property to a civic corporation of parishioners.

The way the property and assets are governed -- by the laity and not church leaders -- has created a standoff between St. Stanislaus' parishioners and Burke. The archdiocese maintains it should have had final decision-making authority throughout the parish's history.

St. Stanislaus parishioners have said they want documentation that would hold up in civil courts that their church will not be closed. They said they do not anticipate reaching a compromise anytime soon.