The New York herald., 1844-07-12
[From the Buffalo Gazette.
Extraordinary Case OF Clerical Tyranny.

ing OF the members of the congregation worship
ping at the ST. Louis Church, had been held 10 hear
and consider report made by VIM. b. lie Couteuix,
Esq, who had just returned from Europe, IN rela-
tion 10 the matters Of difference between The con-
grcgation and Bishop Hughes On Sunday last
another large meeting was held, and petition,
written in German and French, was adopted with
out Il dissenting voice. There was perieci unanlmi-
iy Of feeling with all, and determination To con-
tinue in the position winch they had assumed, OF
opposition 10 the demands OF Bishop Hughes, Tor
o. the Church The petition Is already signed by
four hundred names, all legal men and heads OF
families, and will be kept open eight days longer,
during which time It's trends expect an addition oi
large number, which shows that mere - large
and respectable party opposed 10 the Bishop, and
not five SIX Individuals, as he had been IN.
duced believe, and stated IN one OF his published
letters.
AS there is much anxiety 10 hear the side OF the
question Of those posed TO the Bisnop, we give
below translation OF the petition TO the Pope,
which contains a recapltulalion OF the grievances
OF which they complain.
To oun HoLu FA1nEn, THE PorE AT noME:-
The undersigned, Roman catholics oi the ~. Louis
Church. Buffalo ~ " all Of legal age and hea 10 oil iani-
es recently took the liberty your Holiness pc
ion and divers documents in order TO explain to your
Holiness the sprtua grievances which they endure AT
the hands OF John hughes Bishop e the Diocese o. New
abandon his hands the administration OF the temporal
fairs Of their church Sand petition and documents hay
ing been from Paris about the fret OF May last the
nation, the decision wi hch il might have pleased youi
Holiness make this affair, il circumstances had
occurred aggravate their position and That o thr
nun ervus families Notwithstanding that the said me
mortal fully explains the grievances and the winch
given rise 10 them the undersigned take the iper!
10 here reiierae 10 your Holiness the principal iacn
NJ LIE Couteulx de Caumont native OF France, hav
been constrained at the time OF the French revolu
non TO emigrae TO the United States and having become
the p,ssessor OF large landed property at Bu,io, deslr
I'd temple raised to the religion he pro.s ed and
which had been thai OF his fathers profng by the arrival
nt larnu Af tlnllr
ab. project into execution Wnh this view he male
donation in perpetity Of large lot OF land situated on
the prime street of said city Of Buffalo on the consider
tha The Cath ocs should eject upon temple TO
their religion And in order 10 receive rch revenue
be leased and The rents nure TO the benefit OF the
church. Things being thus arranged, each Caihoic
Contributed according his cans tow ards carrying the
project into effect and III snort tine Amaii church
erected and consecrated by Bishop Dubois IN which
The faithful had last the hapnefs TO be able TO pray to
their common Saviour, ard TO attend Divine Service
Things continued thus unit, the Catholic population da
arriving from France ond other ports of Europe coulo
longer be accommodated in the little church. Thanks
the generosity Of Mr. Le Couteulx who had also given
lot to the Irish Catholics which to build church
sepa has between them and the undersigned
French and Germans. But the emigration Of Catholics
still continuing ut the end Of few years i became ur
gently necessary to erect new church which could ac-
commodAte The increased number Alter several prepar
tory meetings, at which each Catholic snbscribed ac
cordng To his means the largest church on this continent
was erected, enclosing the old one within is walls. in
order not tn aterrup, the services What is worthy o
remark notwithstanding that the members Of the ST
Louis church mostly poor and with large
families their money and labor alone contributed TO the
erection Of the church, and no debt Whatever was con
racted
Before the erection Of this church, IL agreed
with the Of Mr. lie Couteux and bishop Dubois
partly with view to avoid the payRent OF heavy taxes
and partly 10 crafty the wishes OF portion OF the mem
bera Of the church. that should be accor
ding to the jaws OF the State Of New York.
This accordingly done and Board Of Trustees was
elected by the congregation to administer the temporal
sffars Of the church. pnd never was the afdrs OF 3
church wisely conducted, never in manner more
worthy of praise, than the afiars Of 81 Louis
Church. until the decease Of much regretted Bishop
Dubois He was succeeded by the prese, Bishop JoLi
Hughes. who pleased in pastoral letter dated
Sept 1872 to claim the church for himself and our pas
tor The congregation being accustomed 10 the admins
ration of the trustees, and imbuei moreover with tn.
IDEAS Of this republican country refused to yield 10 h DE
mands Meetings were held, and respectful resolutions
adopted and mtted to the Bishop who refused them
the least consideration 1hs pastoral letter was succeed
ed by others addressed to Of the trasees Mr. VIM
lie Couteux Of the heretofore meniioned benefac
and 10 pastor. Some Of them were very bitter
and threatening TO deprive of pastor and of all re
gious succorihreats which were unhapriy too prompt
executed Our pastor, under frivolous pretext OF IL
beath authorised 10 return to France and when W.
cited another he replied to us that we should have
none until submitted 10 what e exacted in his pasfo
raj letter heretofore referred TO- Much evaporation re
suited from this To midnsss and respectful applications
succeeded bitter correspondence and publications. in 'hs
public Journals which not calculated to promote the
good ,f our holy religion but upon the contrary lie
porahe scandal oil every thing connected WIN u Moreo
the pastors o the vicinity from officiating in our church. oi
give the least Of those religious consultations whic
cause the foundation Of ell happiness And that
gregaion formerly united, and forming but front
when Holy religion was in question, found Itself d.
vided And that fine church Of which they were So
proud which they had erected at many ces and
with much labor and zeal, was toielly abandoned BY
the Clergy and devoted to namy, belonging to
bells the greater proportion Of our children have moi
been able to take their first communion and those among
them who have been able to enjoy that happiness hav'
been constrained 70 go and solicit it. accompanied by
their parents several miles from the city, and often at al
expense hey ond their pecuniary circumstances. Th'
has been the case in the administration Of the Holy
3acraments When of in Danger OF dy ing oi
tor the nterment Of the DEAL necessary TO 20
vsral miles to conduct the only pastor who was willing
turn Of Bishop Hughes from Europe, several Nissona
res speaking French and German have come under his
authority to preach in the Irish Catholic Church Tho
ali who resist the viii Of the Bishop and who continue o
in 81, Louis Church, TO pray together and impoT.
the OF their Divine Saviour that he Will put On en-
to their grievances. They have succeeded in making
proslyte AID have caused divisions in several fan
lies which had before taken place. and whose e
iec,s deplorable in country where the majority
he inhabitants are Potestans and here the Catholic
religion often outraged In order TO favor this division
has been circulated that the property Of " Lou
Church did not belong to the congregation, but that
had revert ted to the heirs OF the donor II was then
agreed TO purchase another lot on which to build new
church Aud in order 10 bring this about these mission
aries In the name Of he Bishop agreed to subscribe fys
thousand francs 10 aid in its construction This church
just been finished and two pastors attached to IT, who
with the Bishop have the entire control OF It, None bur
those who submit TO the will OF the Bishop admit r.
into II any member OF the congregation Of st Lonis
Church. sick and 10 danger OF ing and wish for tn
Holy Sacraments they 1t required TO acknowedg
their wrongs towards the Bishop in order TO oh ain that
which Is dear to them otherwise they abandoned
large number OF the Undersigned, not having beer
willing TO send children 10 the public schools for
fear that their religious principles might become conem
natcd; decided upon new sacrifices In establishing
two schools and providing them with Catholic teachers
entirely Vt our own expense. The children who attend
these schools under pretext another, denied
the Confession and the Communion, il their parents dc
submit the will OF the Bishop md to offer
their prayers in the St. Louis Church Out OF popula
ton Of about IS 900 which Buffalo contains there
are about 600 to 10000 who Catholics, including
those in circle Of some three miles in the surrounding
country. Buffalo contains nineteen churches Of which
three Catholic, and Of that number 81. Louis find,
herself interdcted Most OF the Catholic children from
the pecunary circumstances Of their parents obliged
their livelihood by ring out servants other
WISE IN American families, who being all Professionals
there great Danger that through continued solicitations
they will become attached to other oftheir sects
several among them have already become so. OF tbs