St. Stanislaus Kosta Catholic Church will have control over its assets and property instead of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, a local circuit judge ruled Thursday. Several years ago, St. Stanislaus was stripped of its standing as a Roman Catholic Church in a dispute over the church's charter.
A late 18th century agreement between the parish and archdiocese would allow the church to handle its own finances, but still allowed the archbishop control over pastoral and board appointments.
In 2001, the local parish board attempted to amend that agreement, voting to deny the archbishop's ability to appoint or fire the pastor or board members.
Two years later, the Archdiocese of St. Louis asked the church to conform to a dynamic consistent with other churches in the archdiocese.
However, St. Stanislaus board members were unwilling to alter that original deal and changed the church's bylaws, thereby removing the archbishop's authority over them.
Then-Archbishop of St. Louis Raymond Burke removed the church pastor and declared St.Stanislaus Kosta could not longer be a Catholic Church.
Several board members were excommunicated as a result.
The board hired its own priest, Father Marek Bozek, who was eventually excommunicated and defrocked as a clergyman.
The Archdiocese of St. Louis filed suit against the historic Polish church to reclaim control over their finances.
To read the statement from the Archdiocese of St. Louis about the St. Stanislaus ruling, click here