The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-03

the Latin Bishop Here and Not
Place Himself Under His Jurisdic-
tion-Denied That He Sought
Faculties from Bishop Hoban-Re-
buttal Testimony.
At 8 o'clock yesterday afternoon, the
taking Of testimony was concluded in
the injunction case brought by mem
bers of the Greek Catholic church of
Olyphant to prevent the excommuni-
Gated priest, Rev. John Ardan and his
adherents from continuing in control
of the church aud its appurtenant
property.
Rev. Ardan was called to the stand
yesterday morning to testify in his
own behalf. He denied that after his
eXcommunication he formed a new, in
dependent church, and maintained that
he continued to conduct services ac-
cording to the Greek Catholic rites.
In explanation of his receiving facul-
ties from Bishop Hoban he stated that
Il convention of Greek Catholic priests
was held in Philadelphia in 1899 when
it was agreed that inasmuch as there
was no Greek bishops in this country
the Greek priests should present
themselves to the Latin bishops lie
went to Bishop Hoban as Il matter
of courtesy and not to receive faculties.
Bishop Hoban offered him the facul-
ties and he accepted them. but in
doing so he did not agree or intend to
submit himself to the jurisdiction of
Bishop Hoban except in the matters
of faith and doctrine. The articles of
union between the two churches pre-
scribed, he said that in ,matters or
discipline the Latin bishops were not
to have jurisdiction.
THEY OPPOSE IT.
He further stated that 1t is only
few members of his congregation who
are opposed to his continuing as pas
tor. The great majority Of the 400
members of the church he said. are
opposed to his being under the juris-
dicton of Il Latin bishop.
Mr.. Hand had the witness identify
the letter he sent to Bishop flOban
asking that his name be stricken from
the roll of priests under the bishops
jurisdiction. Mr.. Hand wanted that
the witness should be allowed to eX-
plain certain passages of the letter
but Judge Edwards would not permit
this. saying that the construction OF
the letter was solely for the court
Mr.. O'Brien subjected Rev. Ardan to
n rigid cross s-eXamnation. The wit
ness admitted that Cardinal Senlbra-
towicz. the metropolitan, of Lembers,
by whom he was sent to this country,
directed him to present himself to the
Latin bishop of the diocese in which
he located, but he stoutly maintained
that he was told not to subject himself
to the Latin bishops Jurisdiction.
An unsuccessful attempt was made
by Mr.. OBren to have the witness ad-
NIT that he asked Rev. Father Staas,
the Polish priest of Olyphant. to ac-
company him when he went to Bishop
Hoban and that he told Father Staas
he wanted to receive faculties from and
come under the jurisdiction of Bishop
Hoban. The witness admitted that
Father Staas accompanied him. but
could not recall having told Father
Staas he wanted to come under
Bishop Hoban's jurisdiction.
ADMITTED AUTHORSHIP.
Regarding the alleged anarchical ar
ticles appearing in the SWoboda, the
witness admitted their authorship and
explained that he acquired the IDEAS
therein expressed from his readings.
When asked by Mr.. O'Brien If he still
held these views, he began quibbling
about terms and after a lengthy eX-
change of questions there came from
the witness the statement that he did
not know whether or not he now be-
lieVed in what he then wrote.
One of the articles was an interro-
sative argument to the effect that IL
the killing of Filipinos and Chinese by
a government could be justified on the |
that the government believed 1t |
was to effect some good end, why was |
it not right for an individual to COM |
NIT murder il the individual believed 1t |
was for a good purpose. Another ar
ticle was in the shape of a call to Greek |
Catholics to draw away from Rome.
The fact that four years elapsed from |
The time of Rev. Ardun's arrival in this |
and the time he presented HIM
self to Bishop Hoban, considered in
connection with the fact that the visit
to Bishop Hoban was closely following |
the Philadelphia convention of Greek
priests, prompted a number of ques-
lions from Mr.. OBrien tending to show
that it was not in obedience to the |
~;reek metropolitanls instructions, but |
TO the resolution of the PHILADELPHIA
convention that Rev. Ardan waited on
Bishop Hoban.
IN REBUTTAL.
The plaintiffs side, in rebuttal. put
Rev. Staas on the stand. and he told
hat Rev. .Ardan came to him In 1889
md asked him to accompany him to
see Bishop IIoban, that he wanted to
get faculties from him and subject him
self to Bishop Hoban's jurisdiction.
Rev. Ardan, the witness said, had with
lim letter of release from the Greek
bishop of Gallatla, and ON the back of
his Bishop Hoban made an endorse
nent comforting faculties.
Rev. Obiscavitch. the Greek Catholic
priest of Mayfield, who was the for
ner pastor OF the Olyphant Greek
'atholic church, gave testimony for the
plaintiff to the effect that while on
'isit to the old country in July, 1894, he
vas told by the Metropolitan of Lem
berg that in April of that year the
,ongregazione de Propa ganda Eide had
iecreed that Greek Catholic priests in
countries like the United