St. Stan's Suppressed

In a decree dated 29th December, the archbishop of St. Louis suppressed St. Stanislaus Parish.

It was published yesterday in the archdiocesan weekly St. Louis Review, and sources on the ground tell Whispers that the document arrived at the parish by mail this past Tuesday, 3 January.

Reaction from the board, et al. in the Post-Dispatch:

"We will continue our Roman Catholic services," said board member Bob Zabielski....

Burke's action last week has a few practical implications for the church, such as obtaining separate insurance and tax-exempt status. The church has already taken steps to resolve those matters, a spokesman said.

But the larger issue is whether the decree clears the way for a suit against the board members. The original incorporation papers of St. Stanislaus stated that its purpose was to unite a church congregation of Polish Roman Catholics and maintain a Polish Roman Catholic Church.

Bernard Huger, a lawyer for the archdiocese, said St. Stanislaus is vulnerable to legal action because it is no longer a Roman Catholic parish and is violating its own bylaws. He added that the archdiocese has not planned any legal action.

-30-