Roman Catholic Apostolic Church v. People
Roman Catholic Apostolic Church v. People
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
With respect to the whole complaint, including the claims made for the repair of churches and the like, there is another consideration which shows that the court is without jurisdiction to entertain this action. The People of Porto Rico was constituted a body politic by section 7 of the Organic Act
The People of Porto Rico can only be sued by reason of something contained in the Organic Act, by reason of its assumption of some duty or obligation, or by reason of some other act or default committed by it. There is nothing in the Organic Act which makes The People of Porto Rico responsible for the failure of the Government constituted here in 1898 and 1899 to pay sums designed for any purpose by the budget of 1898-1899. We find no language therein which would devolve upon The People of Porto Rico any responsibility for the acts or defaults of its predecessors. The question then arises whether The People of Porto Rico by the law of March 10, 1904, or by any other legislative measure has made itself responsible for the failure of the budget. This statute says:
“Section 1. — Original jurisdiction is hereby conferred on the Supreme Court of Porto Rico for the trial and adjudication of all questions now existing, or which may arise, between the Roman Catholic Church in Porto Rico and The People of Porto Rico, affecting property rights, whether real or personal or mixed, claimed by either party.”
But these words of themselves do not give rise to a claim which did not exist therefor and neither the law, nor any of the history connected with it discloses any intention on the part of the legislature to assume the payments of the sum which it is alleged were due to the plaintiff in 1898 or 1899. We know of no other act, step or action on the part of the defendant here which "made it answerable for the payments which the plaintiff is claiming. There are no facts shown or which it seems to us can be shown which would make this action a claim against The People of Porto Rico.
Dismissed.
Concurring Opinion
concurred because he was of the •opinion that the Supreme Court was without jurisdiction to take cognizance in this case of a personal action to recover money the origin of which was not a title to real propert3r in controversy.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.