A meeting between the St. Louis Archbishop and a parish priest ended with each giving the other a deadline.Archbishop Raymond Burke rejected an offer by Rev. Marek Bozek involving St. Stanislaus Catholic Church.
He told Rev. Bozek he must repent or face being kicked out of the priesthood, a process known as "defrocking."
Defrocking means Rev. Bozek would no longer be a priest in the eyes of the Roman Catholic Church.
The two met at archdiocesan headquarters Tuesday morning.
Bozek supporters and Burke backers were both lined up outside in the rain.
St. Stanislaus and the Archbishop have been engaged in a two-year legal battle over finances and property.
Rev. Bozek told the Archbishop Tuesday morning he'd consider leaving the parish if Burke reinstated the church and several members to good standing.
Rev. Bozek and six church leaders have already been excommunicated.
After the meeting Bozek told reporters, "I am willing to seriously consider terminating all my activities at St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, go to the diocese of Springfield-Cape Girarudeau or become a monk in a Benedictine Abbey."
Archbishop Burke said, "It's certainly not right for Father Bozek to think that he can make his own, get his own life straightened out conditional upon certain other things he wants to see happen or others want to see happen."
The Archbishop says Father Bozek has until March 5 to comply.
After that, Archbishop Burke says he'll have no choice but to begin the defrocking process which could take a year or more. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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