BishopAccountability.org
	Father Marek Bozek Press Conference Transcript, 3.5.2008 Voice from the Desert March 10, 2008 http://reform-network.net/?p=1482 The following 3.5.2008 press release from Father Marek Bozek is a transcript of what he said at his press conference at St. Stanislaus Kostka parish in St. Louis. Communicated to me via an email from Bob Schutzius. Thanks, Bob. * * * After hours of prayerful discernment and upon the advice of my canon lawyer, I have decided to discontinue my participation in the so called "canonical penal process" that has been initiated by Archbishop Raymond Leo Burke in my regard. I will not subject myself any longer to the process which does not even attempt to appear fair. In the society where rights of any individual to an unbiased, fair process and a legal representation of ones own choosing are guaranteed by our Constitution, any further participation in this parody of legal proceedings would not only violate my conscience but also make the Catholic Church a subject of deserved but unnecessary criticism. The church penalties that have already been administered to me, i.e. suspension and excommunication, as well as those that seem to be coming my way laicization, are results of my stands taken in the face of injustice and abuse of power in the Roman Catholic Church. Archbishop Burke calls them "crimes" and "delicts" whereas most of the Roman Catholic faithful see my actions as prophetic and hope-giving. I have stated my beliefs very clearly: I believe that the governance of the temporary goods of any Parish should rest in the hands of its Parishioners; I believe that every baptized male or female, celibate or married has a right to be considered for the Holy Orders; I believe that the words of Jesus, repeated at the Consecration during each Holy Mass, "take this all of you and eat it" and "take this all of you and drink from it" oblige me to invite all believers to receive Holy Communion. I explicitly welcome all at the Eucharistic table, with no regard to their race, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other extraneous factor. Here I stand and I can do no other. As I conclude this chapter of debate and uncertainty, I look forward to many years of being a pastor of this vital and growing Catholic parish community in St. Louis in communion with the broader Catholic Church. My Catholic identity calls me to connection with and accountability to the broader Catholic Church and I will move rapidly and prudently, with the advice of St. Stanislaus community, to prayerfully discern where I am called to connect and be accountable. In days and weeks to follow I will seek incardination with another validly ordained Catholic bishop. Since I am not welcomed as a part of Archbishop Burke's ecclesial jurisdiction, I look forward to forming a new, strong relationship with another Catholic Bishop and other than Saint Louis Archdiocese jurisdiction.
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