Czech Unitarian Headquarters Returned
to Rightful Owners After Long Legal Battle

Boston, May 23, 2000

After more than six years of being exiled by a faction of dissidents, Czech Unitarians, the rightful owners of #8 Karlova in Prague, have regained the headquarters of the Czech Unitarian Association. The church was founded by Dr. Norbert Çapek. Word of this action was received by the President's Office of the UUA late Monday night (May 22), through the Rev. Joe Ben-David, who acts as International Coordinator for the Development of the Czech Unitarian Association.

Ivanka Kocmanová (left), the elected Chair of the Central Committee for the CUA, said that this action marks the culmination of a long legal battle during which time the Czech Unitarians have operated out of a basement makeshift office. The headquarters building, known as 'Unitaria,' is a large commercial and religious headquarters building not far from the famous Charles Bridge in Prague. In the tradition of many European religious organizations, the church-held property not only provides a home for the organization, but its revenue supports the growth and development of other churches throughout the country. The turnover is a direct result of a District Court decision released on March 31 of this year, declaring that the present occupants of Unitaria were to vacate the premises and turn over the keys to the CUA. The decision carries out the earlier decisions of the Prague High Court and the Czech Constitutional Court, which most recently declared illegal the constitution of the renegade group. This means that the state-certified religious body under the leadership of Ms. Kocmanová is the rightful one. The action also means that the congregation and its democratically-elected leadership is free to reinhabit its building, rebuild Czech Unitarianism, and act on a vision for its own future. This action is consistent with the unanimous appeals of the leadership of Unitarian and Unitarian Universalist communities around the world.

While it is too early to fully celebrate what has been a difficult and arduous process, Ms. Kocmanová thinks the future is brighter than it has been in recent memory. Just after the March 31 decision, the congregation held a special celebration in anticipation of this day. "Our people are very moved by the events of the last week," Ms. Kocmanová said, "and are hopeful that the court decision will be fully carried out. They are anxious to come home." Ms. Kocmanová and other leaders of the CUA will be attending the UUA General Assembly in Nashville this year.

Unitarianism in the Czech Republic was founded between the first and second world wars, when the Czechoslovak Republic was founded. The leadership of Dr. Norbert Çapek*, whose work, writings and traditions are much beloved by Unitarian Universalists around the world, emerged at that time and gave religious voice to the hope embodied in an emerging democracy. Çapek's sermons, speeches, music and rituals (including the Flower Communion used in many UU congregations) gave a young nation confidence in itself and its citizens confidence in themselves.

For further information on the transfer of the Czech headquarters, please contact Ken Jones, Interim Administrator for International Programs, at 617-742-2100 x 412, kjones@uua.org.

*For more information about Çapek, read the Skinner House Book "Norbert Fabian Çapek: A Spiritual Journey" by Richard Henry.

Unitarian Universalist Association
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