Cosmos-Liturgy-Sex

Most remember that St. Stanislaus Parish in St. Louis rebelled against their Bishop’s authority back in 2005 and voted “to hire” their own priest. This goes to show that the rebellion of Trusteeism that plagued the Catholic Church in the U.S., beginning in earnest in the early 19th century, is still alive today.

Trusteeism of course was the revolt of some Catholic parishes, who were affected by practical Protestant ecclesiology and the democratic culture of the U.S.  They exercised the legal authority over parish property that they had in the name of their trustees in order to usurp the authority of the Bishop.  Trustees existed in the U.S.  because of many states’ anti-Catholic laws prohibiting the property to be owned by the Catholic Diocese.

Well, it seems that St. Stanislaus has experienced a time warp and made its way from this initial anti-hierarchical Protestantism and covered a couple of centuries of doctrinal decay in a very short time. Apparently the priest that St. Stanislaus brought in had more in mind for the parish than simply continuing leading it in an otherwise Catholic manner.

An article in STL Today shows that those responsible for St. Stanislaus’ revolt are now looking to get rid of the priest that they brought in. What they wanted was a priest who limited his refusal of assent to truth solely to his recognition of the authority of the hierarchy which ordained him. They did not want one who also rejected the other dogmatic teachings on faith and morals. Not surprisingly, that is what they got.

I don’t suppose that it will become apparent to these parishioners anytime soon that they are simply reaping the inevitable consequences of their actions.  What they are seeing is the natural result of their initial denial of the truth of the authority of the Bishop over their parish.

They may have in fact lost their parish as the priest has brought in enough new dissenters, such that the original dissenters are now outnumbered. The new dissenters want to keep the priest because he has open communion, including for those who have divorced and remarried and for those who live a same sex attraction disordered lifestyle.  He also attended the attempted “ordination” of women as Catholic priests.

I cannot think of another case that has demonstrated so aptly and so quickly, the logical consequence of Protestant rebellion. Once the principle of Church organization/hierarchical authority has been ruptured, there is nothing left but the arbitrary will of those remaining to keep a community, in any degree, in union with the teachings of Christ.  St. Stanislaus, pray for us!