Fr. Bozek

Hurrah for Fr. Bozek's courage (NCR, Feb. 22). I bet what does him in is his open support for the ordination of women at the synagogue in St. Louis. Other "disobedience" could be forgiven. But according to church practice, it will be swept under the rug unless Fr. Bozek decides to let people know. I would suggest that the lay board of St. Stanislaus Parish give away to the charities of their choice most of the $9 million the parish has acquired and just keep operating expenses for the next couple years. Then it would not go into the coffers of the archdiocese and therefore into Archbishop Burke's hands. I am praying for all involved.

JANIS FITSCHEN

New Berlin, Wis.

Fr. Bozek for pope!

RONALD FOUST

Atlanta

Thank you for your excellent article on Fr. Marek Bozek. As a Catholic and Secular Franciscan, I believe the Holy Spirit is calling the church to move beyond laws into love. Fr. Bozek's struggle to allow the Spirit to breathe new life into a barnacle-encrusted institution is an inspiration to all those with hearts wide open.

St. Francis of Assisi heard the Spirit's call to re-create the church based on Gospel love and forgiveness, and he followed his call, only to have his dance stifled and his followers later encrusted once again with rules and regulations. Just because the church hierarchy demands obedience does not make that call right or just. The institutional church has proven itself wrong century after century. From the fifth to the 18th century the church had canons decreeing death for those who were accused of witchcraft, sometimes simply because the person caused a child to be healed or had a husband who couldn't perform in bed, and it had canons allowing evidence gained by torture to be used as proof of guilt. The church had its inquisitions, its condemnations of our brothers and sisters who were Jews or Muslims, its misogynistic laws, its rampant oppressions. Until the church actually follows the Gospel love of Christ, it cannot stand in judgment of anyone's soul.

MARY JOY MARTIN

Montrose, Colo.

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