By AP/KWMU
St. Louis – The board of a Polish-heritage parish that has been at odds with the Archdiocese of St. Louis for years, has lost its appeal of an excommunication order.
Vatican officials said in a May 15 letter that they are upholding Archbishop Raymond Burke's declaration of excommunication of the board of St. Stanislaus Kostka church.
The letter says the six-person lay board broke with the church by appointing its own priest, the Rev. Marek Bozek. Only a bishop can appoint priests to parishes under Catholic law.
The board has 30 days to file another appeal.
Burke said Bozek also risks being removed from the priesthood. The Archbishop said the Vatican found Bozek guilty of celebrating sacraments with Protestant ministers.
Bozek denies that, but says he does receive communion in non-Catholic churches.