Dochkus v. Lithuanian Benefit Society
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Appeal, No. 47, Jan. T., 1902, by defendants, from decree of C. P. No. 2, Phila. Co., Sept. T., 1900, No. 405, in case of Thaddeus Dochkus et al. v. The Lithuanian Society of St. Anthony, et al. Bill in equity to compel the conveyance of a church property to Patrick John Ryan, Archbishop of Philadelphia.
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Appeal, No. 47, Jan. T., 1902, by defendants, from decree of C. P. No. 2, Phila. Co., Sept. T., 1900, No. 405, in case of Thaddeus Dochkus et al. v. The Lithuanian Society of St. Anthony, et al. Bill in equity to compel the conveyance of a church property to Patrick John Ryan, Archbishop of Philadelphia. From the record it appeared that in the year 1893 the members of the congregation of the church of St. Anthony purchased a church edifice and dwelling house on Fifth street south of Carpenter street in the city of Philadelphia. At the time of the purchase of the property the congregation…
1Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
Mr. Justice Mestrezat,
The determination of the issue raised by the pleadings in this case required the court below to pass on two questions : (1) Had the congregation worshiping at St. Anthony Church placed itself under the ecclesiastical authority of the Roman Catholic Church as represented by the Archbishop of Phila*28delphia? (2) If it had not done so, did a majority of the congregation desire to have the church property transferred to the Archbishop, tobe held by him for the Roman Catholic Church? The learned trial judge, as well as both parties, tacitly conceded that these were…
2Cases cited1 opinion
- Roshi's AppealSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1871
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