The Dicastery for the Clergy has accepted petitions for recourse against decrees related to three parishes: St. Agnes in Bloomsdale, St. Lawrence in Lawrenceton and St. Bernadette in Lemay, according to correspondence Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski received from the Vatican in January. The Dicastery for the Clergy is a Vatican office that assists the pope with issues relating to priests and deacons of the diocesan clergy.

In accepting the petitions, the Vatican does not reverse the archbishop’s decision, but it has agreed to review the decision at the request of the recurrent, or petitioner.

At the dicastery’s request, the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of St. Louis will prepare information to be studied in these cases, and the dicastery will continue communication with the petitioners after the case has been studied. Canon law also outlines that a lower authority — in this case, Archbishop Rozanski — is not to become involved in the cases while the appeal process is pending. The Metropolitan Tribunal is responsible for all matters concerning the application and practice of canon law in the archdiocese.

On Pentecost of 2023, Archbishop Rozanski issued 83 decrees as part of the All Things New strategic planning process, following many months of analysis, consultation and discernment. Since then, every parish in the Archdiocese of St. Louis has been called to rededicate themselves to new modes of evangelization and social outreach.

After the announcement on Pentecost, Archbishop Rozanski received eight appeals for hierarchical recourse, which were forwarded to the Vatican. They are: Our Lady of Sorrows in south St. Louis, St. Angela Merici in Florissant, St. Catherine of Alexandria in Coffman, St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Luebbering, St. Martin of Tours in Lemay, St. Matthew the Apostle in St. Louis, St. Richard in Creve Coeur and St. Roch in St. Louis.

The Dicastery for Clergy also accepted for study a different appeal from other St. Angela Merici and St. Martin of Tours parishioners. The dicastery notified Archbishop Rozanski about those acceptances in January.

In October, the dicastery accepted petitions for recourse against decrees related to two additional parishes: St. Elizabeth, Mother of John the Baptist Parish in north St. Louis and Sts. Philip and James Parish in River aux Vases.

The archdiocese said that it is aware other parishioners have appealed directly to the Vatican. In those cases, the archdiocese must wait for communication from the dicastery confirming that additional appeals have been received.

While there is no timeline for the Vatican to make decisions regarding any remaining appeals, it is likely that the process will take several months.