Document #7

"Ea Semper"- July 21, 1910

Historical Background

This document is an article published in the Rusyn language newspaper Rusin on July 21, 1910. The article captures the outrage of the Carpatho-Rusyn people to the Vatican issuing "Ea Semper" to regulate the Greek Catholic Church in the United States. As the article demonstrates, the Carpatho-Rusyns saw this latest effort by the Vatican as part of the long-term effort to subjugate Greek Rite Catholics to the authority of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States, removing all of the elements that made the Greek Catholicism distinct from Roman Catholicism. The article urges Carpatho-Rusyns in both the United States and the European homeland to protest against these latest actions of the Vatican.

"The "EA SEMPER" is truly the "EA SEMPER": ALWAYS THE SAME".

Do not think that the "EA SEMPER" Bulla is something new. No. It is an old Bulla, only it is written more carefully.

The first Bulla appeared, when the first Greek Rite Catholic Priest Fr. John Voljansky was excommunicated, because he was married. He was recalled by the Metropolitan of Lvov, who replaced him with Fr. Constantine Andruchovic a celibate.

The second Bulla was given October 1, 1890.

The Third Bulla was given April 12, 1894.

The Fourth Bulla was given October 1,1904 the Fifth Bulla was given June 14,1907, the "EA SEMPER".

The contents of these Bullas are the same, i.e., that a married priest has no place in the United States of America; Secondly that the Greek Rite Catholic Rusin may follow the Latin rite. All are under the jurisdiction of the Latin rite bishops, if they deem it beneficial, they may appoint a Rusin or Latin as a Vicar.

The goal of this Bulla was to bring uniformity, i.e., take over the Greek Rite Catholics into the Latin rite.

The same is happening at present; One returns to the old country, the other one is recalled, and the third one goes to Schism.

In general, the Bullas were given. The first one was not fulfilled, therefore it was necessary to have the second, third, fourth, and fifth, because not one of them was accepted, therefore they did not last.

In general, the Bullas did not last, because the clergy and the faithful opposed them with one spirit. That some parts of the Bulla were carried out, the reason was our weakness.

When the Lvov Metropolitan received an order to recall Fr. J. Voljansky from the United States of America, only because he was a married man, this was the time to destroy the Irish bishop’s intrigues, and reply to the Congregation of Faith. That they stand fast by their married clergy, whom they will not recall, nor replace them.

When the Presov bishop recalled Fr. Alexius Toth, because he was protecting his Church and spoke harshly with the St. Paul Latin rite bishop, was it not his obligation to defend his priest and stand by him resolutely, firmly? No.

Both of them were obedient and fulfilled the orders. One of the recalled returned home, the other on account of moral obligation at home could not return, instead went into Schism.

What happened with the "EA SEMPER" Bulla? The same as it happened with the preceding Bullas.

They were not promulgated nor upheld. If some upheld the "EA SEMPER" Bulla favoring the Irish bishops, that does not mean that the "EA SEMPER" Bulla was upheld. The reason for this was our misunderstanding and our weakness.

If the Old-country bishops would have bravely protested against the Bullas, if in the United States the clergy and faithful would protested in unity, then we would not fear the Bullas.

What do we notice at present? We are aware that all the Galician bishops protested, but we did not hear that the Uhro-Rusin bishops fulfilled their obligation.

Was it not their obligation, their faithful, their Church was in concern? Didn’t they have the same obligation as the Galician bishops?

What kind of harmony unity do we have in the United States?

We are aware that only 15 priests did not sign the protest against the "EA SEMPER" Bulla."