St. Casimir's Polish Roman Catholic Church's Case

Citations

• 273 Pa. 494
• 117 A. 219
• 1922 Pa. LEXIS 604

Syllabus

<p>Church law — Church property — Membership—Division of parish —Loss of membership in particular church by division — Right of members in property controlled by church law — Act of April 86, 1855, P. L. 880.</p> <p>1. There can be no property rights in church property, save through membership in the congregation.</p> <p>2. There is nothing in the Act of April 26, 1855, P. L. 330, or any other statute, which gives to a member of a congregation a property right in his membership therein.</p> <p>3. In matters relating to a church or other voluntary organization its members are bound by and required to conform to its laws.</p> <p>4. Where the laws of a church denomination give to its constituted authorities the right to divide a parish, so as to transfer the members from one church to another, such laws and the rights exercised thereunder will be recognized by the civil courts.</p> <p>5. After such a division has been made, the members transferred lose their membership in their former church, and all interest in the property thereof.</p> <p>6. In consequence of their loss of membership therein, they have no standing to present a petition in the common pleas for the appointment of trustees over the property of such church.</p>