Dear Torie,
No, they recognize that they will be cast out into the outer darkness. This is from their site:
* * * *
What are the options St. Stanislaus has to resolve this conflict?
Hold out for a change of heart by the Archbishop.
- Remote chance
Allow the church to become a non functioning shrine
- After a while the majority will loose interest and the church will go into a state of disrepair. The life of the parish will be extinguished.
Give it away
- Allow the parish to be deeded to another Polish organization, not related to the archdiocese and possibly not related to the Roman Catholic Church.
Join another (non Roman) Catholic Church
- Viable option
- Religious celebrations are nearly identical to what we see in the Roman Catholic Church today
- These religious organizations broke away from the Roman Catholic Church due to the same demands we are seeing today. Religion was not the issue. It was, as it is today, about power and control
* * * *
As you can see, they see as the viable option leaving the "Roman Catholic Church," i.e., the Church over which the pope is head. Looks to me like they're leaning toward the Polish National Catholic Church.
They are well aware that a Catholic priest in communion with the Catholic Church governed by the pope cannot function in a diocese having lost the consent of the ordinary.
sitetest
February 21, 2005
To all Parishioners and Friends:
The attempt to live in harmony with the Archdiocese in a similar role prior to their attempted takeover is finished. We must move on.
From all legal counsel, clergy, and lay people with expertise in Canon Law and prior dealings with the Archbishop we will be unable to reach a mutual resolution to the current situation; regardless of what is offered. The ArchbishopÕs sole interpretation of Canon Law and his continued demonstrated behavior in the matter continues to prevent this.
To deprive a parish and individuals of all religious guidance and celebrations over a property dispute is not in religious doctrine. Yet it is acceptable and enthusiastically embraced through clergy made law, called Canon Law.
The BOD, with advice from many has agreed that it is time to grasp the obvious that there is no hope for a timely mutual resolution. Our religious needs, time, support and funds will diminish our position, wear us down and continue to break and wreck havoc in our community. We, your representatives cannot allow that. After 2+ years of this struggle the insults to our Parish coupled with the disgrace, in depriving us of all religious guidance and celebrations are at an end.
That being said, the BOD has unanimously voted that during this most holy Easter season, to seek interim religious guidance and celebrations from an order of priests or an individual priest outside the authority of the Archbishop of St. Louis. We will do our best to obtain a Roman Catholic Priest with Polish Heritage and who speaks the Polish language. Please bear with us, as this will be difficult, but it may be our ultimate future.
We realize this is a major decision and may come as a shock to some but as the leaders in this conflict we believe it is for the good for the intermediate life of the parish.
We again want to emphasize it is only a temporary move. We will keep the door open to the Archdiocese for dialogue, but only as you direct.
If in the near future, a permanent move outside the Archdiocese is decided in the best interests of the parish, a parishioner vote will be required.
We solicit you religious understanding and continued support in this undertaking. God bless us in these momentous times. We must regain religious leadership and guidance and live with dignity. Mass schedules will be sent to you in the near future, but until then our religious service will continue to be at 9:30 AM in Polish and English.
Mr. Bill Bialczak
Chairman Board of Directors