Fr. Bozek

* St. Louis Archbishop Raymond Burke moved to have a priest laicized (NCR, March 21). How refreshing yet ironic that Polish-born priest Fr. Marek Bozek should epitomize what Pope John Paul II in a 1995 address at the Newark Airport told us as Americans: "America will continue to be a land of promise as long as it remains a land of freedom and justice for all." Would that Archbishop Burke could truly comprehend the significance of the late pope's message. Does not "all" encompass both women and men, laity and clergy?

LEE KASPARI

Denver

* Your unabashed bias concerning Marek Bozek and his actions has brought me to respond to your cover story of Feb. 22. You have chosen to canonize Fr. Bozek, who has made the decision that all things that are not in agreement with the will and mind of Marek Bozek can and should be overthrown.

I was there the day that Marek was ordained a priest. I heard him called in service to the church of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Mo. I was there when he put his hands in Bishop John Leibrecht's hands and the bishop asked him, "Do you promise obedience and respect to me and my successors?" I was the master of ceremonies at his ordination, and I clearly heard his words in answer to the bishop's question. "I do," he said. The fact is clear that Fr. Bozek would not have any problem with Archbishop Burke had he been faithful and truthful to his promise of obedience and respect to Bishop Leibrecht. He would not have any problem with Archbishop Burke had he served the many needy people and parishes in this diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau.

If you are going to name saints, now may be the time for you to look toward faithful church ministers who labor, day after day, with the people they serve.

(Fr.) PAUL McLOUGHLIN

Ozark, Mo.

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