European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 9, 1977, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Doily Magazine archbishop Simon Talarczyk preparing to celebrate communion at Only Church of american catholicism. Singular Catholic by Hubbard Keavy for the associated Pressa Small Adobe building reposes in the Sun of Laguna Beach a Seaside Village South of los Angeles. It is an Odd Structure built by an unusual Man in a denomination founded by a rather curious fellow. This is the Only Church of american catholicism kind of stripped Down roman catholicism begun nearly a Century to. The Church was constructed by the hands of its first congregation  its pastor four decades ago. The spiritual Leader of its Small flock today is Arch Bishop Simon Eugene Talarczyk a roman Catholic priest for a decade. He uses the Liturgy adopted by the founder of the american Church which is the roman Liturgy virtually word for word. One sacrament confession has been dropped  its clerics May marry. The american Church has fewer rules than the roman  does not recognize papal authority As a roman Catholic i could not think As fre Elyas i do now Talarczyk says. I Felt that i wanted to perform services for people without being constantly told by superiors what i could  could not do. It was a life strictly by the Rule Book  i began to feel like a hypocrite. The life was too  Talarczyk is the sixth successor to the Man who built the Church j Ercy Wise Clarkson. Clarkson had been an episcopal Rector. For unfathomable reasons he Decla Redall of the property of his episcopal Church his own  his Bishop defrocked him. Clarkson switched to Ameri can  being deposed Clarkson s Superior threatened suit but a Compromise was reached he was Given apiece of Church property 24 feet wide  60 feet deep. From the rubble of the Long Beach earthquake of 1933,Clarkson, by then a Bishop in the american Catholic Church  his followers erected the building which is17 feet wide  As deep As the plot. It has Only 14 pews seating three each. It is an inti mate Church inspiring despite or perhaps because of its   his congregation built Well. From strange  diverse elements they created an Atmo sphere of simplicity  peace. Henry Brandreth says in his Episcopu Vag Antes a Grant or wandering Bishop that Clarkson taught numerology  other strange  the signs of the Zodiac in the tile floor indicate the diverse Means of the searchers for truth. Wrought Iron Gates separating the Sanctuary from the Nave once Hung Between the barroom  the lobby of a hotel the primitive paintings on the Walls by itinerant artists  the Shab Biness of the Turquoise carpeting project a feeling of honesty. There is a serenity that belies the Long  often rebel Lious histories of the men who developed the american Catholic Church. Joseph Rene Vilatte founded it in Green Bay wis., almost a Century ago. However it apparently was not called that until he incorporated the Churchin Illinois in 1915. Vilatte was a bizarre  parisian trained for the roman Catholic Priesthood he sought Solace in churches in Canada the unite states Rome Belgium France Italy  Switzerland. Soon after his arrival in America in 1876 he became methodist. During succeeding years says Brandreth Vilatte s changes of religious affiliation were numerous   four times he returned to the roman Church once to the methodist became a congregational minister was twice a presbyterian  once an Episco Palian. He was considered on his own motion for Conse cration in the Greco russian orthodox Church. At the beginning of his american career he entered roman Catholic Seminary in Canada but left after three years because the teaching was so rabidly  All other beliefs were condemned As  he turned up in Green Bay in 1884 where an Episco Albishop urged him to work As a Lay missionary among the French people both catholics  protestants. Vilatte urged them to ignore differences in doctrines  to unite  form one congregation. This was the Start of his Church. Vilatte arranged to be ordained in the old Catholic Church in Switzerland which had broken with  a priest he returned to the . And he conducted services in Green Bay  Chicago for 40 years. During this period he went on two strange errands. One was to Ceylon in 1892 to be consecrated a Bishop in the Independent Catholic Church so he would have Sanction to bless the oils essential to the administration of some Sacra ments. Six years later the capricious ecclesiastic went to the Vatican to seek a reconciliation. While in Italy he Corn sunday october 9, 1977 pounded his erratic behaviour by founding the National episcopal Church in Milan. For this Rome excommunicated him. Returning to America he continued his career with the Church he founded until age 80. He consecrated a Succes Sor  retired to his original Seminary in France. He reached Accord with Rome four years before his death in 1929. Miami is the Only other City to have an american Cath Olic congregation but it has no Church. As primate for the United states Simon Eugene went to Miami recently to consecrate a Bishop but the Man chosen by the Board defected to another sect shades of Vilatte hours before the planned ceremony. Talarczyk an affable soft spoken Man of 49, says a High mass each sunday for worshippers numbering a few As two. The average is 11, although it got up to 50 last easter. The Small attendance does not worry Talarczyk although he has taken out advertisements in a local paper. We Are worker priests  do not have time to proselytize the archbishop says. He is assisted by two priests both of whom Are in mechanical trades. With doctorates in Canon Law  divinity Talar Czyk teaches English  the classics in Public schools. On a recent sunday the congregation consisted of the wife of a priest two clerics from a nearby minor dissident sect  Jack  became a regular communicant because i became frustrated in my own Church. I was a Roma Catholic for 52 years but the services have been so changed that i left mass feeling frustrated. Before joined last february i spent an hour talking with Bishop William Johnson of the  diocese  i Goethe expected answers. Nothing he said changed my  says his Church is called american be cause of its concept of Independence autonomous  not recognizing papal authority  Catholic be cause it can be traced Back to 38 . In Antioch Syria  therefore Catholic meaning the Universal Church of Christ. Our Church is one of Many altars the archbishop says echoing the philosophy of  is a Harbor for the har Orless where All can find Hope  guidance. We preach the gospel As did Vilatte  not hellfire  Brimstone. A god s children  the stars  stripes Page 9