The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-03-20
new ANGLES
IN WHITING
SENSATION
'atherBenedict' s0ppOnents
Present Their Side of
Church Dispute
ESPECIAL. TO The TIMESI


, Arried away by the zeal of their
slf-assumed responsibility wrote
heath threats to Father Benedict
aicany. pastor of st. Johns Slav-
h Catholic church, Robertsdale,
aey started q maelstrom OF cir
instances that has gradually
zen whipped by succeeding events
to d veritable whirlpool Of
iarges and counter-charge that
lreatens to engulf a good portion
the reputable citizens of Rob
tsdale and whiting.
FURTHER INTRIGUEs SHOWN.
In the cold. searching light OF
lblicity new angles have bee- -e-
.aled to the gaze Of an absorbed
sblie.
People who have followed the
urse Of events in the affairs of St
i Inns parish as they were unfold
in these columns Will be further
trigued by the communication
inted today.
The letter from Benjamin j..
Irris. state superintendent at
hools. is a reply to q report lIvm
ather Benedict Rajcany to Gov
nor McCray, alleging that the
4 aching OF Slavish has been made
issue in the schools of St.
A Inns parish at the instigation Of
minority of alien Pensioners.
asks Governor McCray what he
ould do about it.
ROM SUBSTANTIAL CITIZENS.
These so-called "irreconcilables"
mprise some of the most sub
antial citizens of the two cities.
icy say there is another side to
e story. A patient public is will
to hear both sides.
This newspaper prints the facts
they reveal themselves. It's in
rest in the controversy is purely
OF service to the communities
sected.
So far as the Hammond attend
&c officers are concerned they
v their knowledge of the whole
lair is confined solely to what
ey've read in the papers.
They are ready to take action,
wever, according to Miss Irene
IN Slyke. of that department, if
casion warrants.
The communications appended
. presented without comment:
REPLY TO ARTICLES.
whiting. Ind, March IS, 1922.
II o the Editor OF The Times:
I'VE the undersigned duly
scted committee of 692 consisting
men and women who are mem
rs of st. Johns parish of Whit
z. Ind. wish to reply to several
ticles appearing in your columns
March 18th, 14th and 18th.
The people OF the city Of Whit
:, and more especially the people
the st. Johns parish OF Whit
:. Ind. have been greatly shock
at the intelligence conveyed in
cent articles appearing in your
per in refernce to the existing
ntroversy between members CT
is parish and their pastor.
first. 1t IS a falsehood that the
ople of st. Johns parish desire
introduction OF the Slovak
lguage in schools during school
urs. This is used by Father
nedict to hide from the general
bile the real reason of dissatis-
elton Of the majority Of the MEM
rs OF St. Johns parish.
TELL REAL REASON.
Second. The real reason being;
.at commencing about a year
Tor to the six months vacation OF
Their Benedict the congregation
re told that in May. 1922, they
)uld have a fine new church edi-
e, which is sorely needed, as the
suit Of the contributing and vari-
fund raising activities that
d been going forward, and .
neral belief had grown up among
arn that the parish was we'll out
debt and had a substantial build
fund on hand. Father Bene-
ii at various times made the
ltement in church that there was
debt of any sort on the parish
operty. Upon taking leave OF
people for his six months va
ton. Father Benedict introduced
d installed Father Joseph Zalib-
as temporary pastor. One o.
first things Father zalibera die
8 to render to the people a II
ncfal report Of the funds as hs
md them, disclosing to horri-
1 parish the fact that instead Of
ng comfortably off as they haf
opposed, the parish was S30.700 il
r. 1t. with 4 very small amount Of
III on hand This disclosure
salty disheartened many Of ths
st loyal supporters Of th'
1rch, who saw what they hac
ougt to be a goal almost in sigh
zealed to them as hard igh
rdly begun. But they neverthe
s put their shoulders to tn,
eel and under the guidance ant
-oura gement of Father Zaliber;
sum Of fifteen thousand (s15.
i dollars was raised in the SIS
nths of Father Benedicts alb
ice. This amount would hav
On trebled If the people would
We been sure that Father Bene
i would not return. as they hat
4 all confidence in his as lead
Upon Father Benedict's return
Whiting he knew what was th'
cause for the dissatisfaction
T existed in the parish and III
opportunities IN church and II
bic to explain to the people anc
Ike a report to them Of his stew
iship-DID HE DO 1T? no. h
not. The people for the pas
years were not given the rign'
elect trustees TO help manager
church's financial affairs-
sher Benedict delegated that t.