In February, 2005, St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke placed the board of the St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church under the 'canonical penalty of interdict' because they refused to turn all parish property and funds over to his control. Interdict meant they couldn't receive communion or other sacraments; now, they have been excommunicated completely.
The Washington Post reports:
Burke said the Rev. Marek Bozek and St. Stanislaus Kostka’s six lay directors committed an act of schism when the board hired Bozek, who Burke said left another diocese without his bishop’s permission. ... He said it was necessary, however, because Bozek planned to celebrate Christmas Eve Mass. Mass has not been celebrated since Easter at the parish, which saw its priests removed last year.
The parish’s assets are estimated to be at least USD $9 million, which would be quite a windfall for Burke. The Vatican has supported Burke and probably approved of the excommunication in advance — apparently, they don’t regard the 19th century agreement for the parish to control its assets as being worth any respect, either.
Archbishop Raymond Burke has tried to use religious sanctions in order to force politicians to vote the way he wants. If they are willing to make a move like this over the finances of a single parish, what reason is there to think that they won’t do it over even more serious issues like abortion or gay rights?
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