Mound City

If Archbishop Burke's purpose was to weigh into politics by using the weight of the Archdiocese, he has certainly achieved his goal. From today's Post-Dispatch:

250 attend Mass backing Burke in St. Stanislaus Kostka fight
By Aisha Sultan
Of the Post-Dispatch
03/13/2005
Both sides deadlocked in the St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church dispute seem to be engaged in a back-and-forth volley of Masses, marches and support rallies.

About 250 worshippers attended a "solidarity" Mass Sunday at St. John the Apostle and Evangelist Church downtown to show support for Archbishop Raymond Burke and his efforts to wrest control of the church's governance from a lay board of directors.

The previous Sunday, those supporting the board of directors' efforts to keep the church independent held a prayer vigil and march from the Cathedral Basilica to the Archdiocese chancery. Richard Bach, a spokesman for parishioners opposed to Burke's claims, said about 300 people participated.

While it may be that Burke is simply trying to reestablish the primacy of the Church in Catholic's lives, he may have simply sparked greater local solidarity and outspokenness among those Catholics who believe in Catholicism, but may have not been as active in the Church. There have been many more lapsed Catholics coming out to show their support for those they believe are getting the short end of the scepter.

This goes beyond the St. Stanislaus issue into the role of the Catholic Church in governance (Burke's statement that Pro-Choice Catholic politicians should be denied communion) and the recent decision to close several parishes in the city.

Burke may have purposely sparked a resurgence of activity in the Catholic community of St. Louis, but they may not be heading in the more conservative direction he would seem to prefer.

- Murphy