The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-08-10
RIVAL FACTIONS
 SEEK CONTROL OF :
 CHURCH PROPERTY
One Clique in Rebellion Against Const.'
 tuted Authority.
Hearing npon Petition Being Argued To. day in Hartford. Alleged That Schis. matic Priest is in Charge Validity of Marriage May be Questioned.

New Britain, Aug. 10.-A1leging that the pastor of their church, Reverend Father Eugene Volkay, is not a prop erly ordained priest, four members of the Holy Trinity Greek Catholic church of New Britain, have petitfoned the Superior court of Hartford county to issue an injunction restraining the priest from performing the duties of his office. Father volkay and several members of the parish who take sides with the priest, have retained Attor- ney Abe s. Geduldig of Bridgeport, to oppose the petition which will be made today at Hartford to Judge William s. Case of the Superior court. Those who are praying for the injunction are also plaintiffs in a suit for damages against the priest and those who stand behind him in this contest. The suit will be heard in September and Ator- ney Geduldig will appear for the de- fendants.
 In 1902 the Hungarian and Polish Ro- man Catholics of New Britain decided to erect an edifce in which they monies of the Greek Catholic church, as did their fathers in their native Po- land- The United Greek Catholic church is not to be confused with the Orthodox church which is the State church of Russia, and whose head is the Czar. The United Greek church is a recognized body of the Roman Cath olic church and subservient to the dfc- tates of His Holiness, the Pope, diff fering from the mother institution in ceremonial only. Great industry marked the decision of the Greek Catholics of New Britain, who in a short time had gathered together a sufficient sum among themselves to purchase a site for their church.
 The next move was to make them selves an incorporated body under the title of the Holy Trinity Greek Cath ollie Church Association, and then to se- and MechanioS Savings Bank of Md- dletown, Conn.,, for $S,000 on their newly acquired property. April IS, 1902, marked the laying of the cor ner stone of a $20, 900 house of worship. After the completion of the church the parish grew and prospered for sev- eral years under the guidance of the Reverend Father Roman Zalitacz, but early in 1908 factions arose and quar- rels ensued which were but the begin ming of the end and which forebode a division that was to be irremediable. All were agreed as far as the principles and teachings of the church were con- cerned, but, although they were all of the same nationality, sectional differ ences and tendencies began to assert themselves for those who had come from Eastern Poland were of Galfcian blood, while those of the South pos sessed the characteristics of the Hun garian.
 The crisis came on Sunday evening, October Il, 1908, when the Hungarian element descended upon the others as they kneH in prayer while assisting at vespers, and entering the church forced the congregation into the street, beating them as they went with clubs and other weapons. Such tun1ultous behavior was the cause of the closing of the church by the authorities of the Hartford diocese. The Hungarian fac tion chose to ignore the command to cease holding religious services in the church and determined to worship God in their church even if they had to break one of his commandments to do so. Theodore Dujack brought Father volkay to New Britain and installed him as pastor of the Holy Trinity church, where he performed all the priestly duties, even uniting people in marriage. If it is proved now that he is not a duly accredited priest, all these marriages will be declared void by the church.
 Father Volkay must now show cause why he should not be deposed and must answer unto the Right Rever- end s. S. Drtynski, resident bishop of the Greek Catholic church in the Uni ted States, with headquarters at Phil adelphia~ The leaders of the faction which brought Father volkay to the church are Theodore Dujack. John