Archbishop designates new church for Polish faithful

ST. LOUIS -- A long-running dispute between a group of Polish parishioners and the Archdiocese of St. Louis took another turn Friday when the archbishop designated a new church to serve the Polish faithful.

As part of a plan to close and consolidate parishes in downtown and south St. Louis, Archbishop Raymond Burke designated certain churches to hold special ministries, including St. Agatha as a place to serve the those of Polish heritage.

The decision surprised some parishioners at St. Stanislaus Kostka in the city, a traditionally Polish parish involved in a dispute with the archdiocese over control of its assets. Earlier this month, Burke issued an interdict, which denies Roman Catholic sacraments, to St. Stanislaus' six-member board.

"It's a decision by the archdiocese to divide and conquer the Polish community in St. Louis," Richard Bach, a parishioner serving as a spokesman for St. Stanislaus, said of the announcement.

Bach said prayer services, held at St. Stanislaus since Burke removed the parish's two priests and forbade Masses there in August, will continue.

"It's not designed to punish or send a message to St. Stanislaus," said archdiocesan spokesman Jamie Allman.

About 150 "refugees from St. Stanislaus" are worshipping at another church, Allman said.

Rather than close St. Agatha, Burke opted to designate it for use by Polish immigrants and those of Polish heritage, Allman said.

Bach disputed Allman's number. He said 10 families -- perhaps 60 parishioners -- left the church when the priests were removed. He also questioned why the archdiocese decided Friday to close St. Hedwig, which he said also had a number of Polish parishioners.

St. Stanislaus was established by Polish immigrants, and in 1891, an archbishop deeded the property to a civic corporation of parishioners. The archdiocese maintains it should have had final decision-making authority throughout the parish's history.

St. Stanislaus parishioners have said they want legally binding documentation that their church will not be closed.