The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-10
The financial AMAars OF The Catholic Uhursh
Ofuow York.

- - Ao~mCs0A AHAuAHw Oh tm6 Ootn04AC On0RUn
orNew York.
The more we look into the manner in which the
affairs of the Catholic church in this diocese, and
especially in the city of New York, are managed
under the auspices of Bishop Hughes, the more
necessity there is, we think, tor full aud public
statement of them being given to the public. 1t
cannot be denied that the impression is very gene
raj, considering the immense revenues that are
annually received by the Bishop and his agents,
and the lamentable state of destitution and debt
which several Of the other Catholic churches in
this city are In, that such exposition of the at
fairs of the church would be highly acceptable,
and would perhaps do away with opinions now in
the minds of great body of the Catholics, that
there Is screw loose somewhere, or that there is
leak somewhere, which ought to be stopped.
Such beng the condition Of things, we think it in
cumbent on the Bishop to come out at once, and
give the desired information, so that the harmony
OF the church may be preserved, and the conf
dence of the people In it restored.
Since we last wrote on this subject, the plot has
thickened very much. We have received COM
municaiion after communication, in which the
writers beg of us to make inquiries publicly on
various subjects, the most important of which
the Catholic burial ground the collegiate institution
at Fordham, and certain tract of property known
the Lafarge estate lying near the Niagara river,
which was originally purchased for charitable pur
| poses, but on which brother of Bishop Hughes
lives in the style OF the
| Old English gentleman,
A hundred years ago.
And first, In relation to the burylng ground,
| plot of land containing twenty-seven acres on
Long Island. 1t is Gust omary, we believe, for each
| oh,,ron rs 81
ground of its own, tor the inter ment of the de-
ceased of Its own congre cation. Bishop Hughes
however, will not tolerate this. He purchases
piece of land, 1t in due form and, by
fuspg to cOnsecrate any other, compels the burial
of all deceased Catholics, belonging to all the Ca
tholic churches in the city, in his ground BY this
method of operation, he monopohzes all the fees
and profits arising from the large sums which are
charged by his agents, which we believe amount
to seventeen dollars for each full grown person
This is paying pretty well for the privilege of being
inferred in ground censecrated by the church. BY
forcing, in This way, all burlals to be made in his
ground, the Bishop and his agents enjoy perfect
monopoly of the business.
Now, the question is, what becomes of the large
revenues derived from this source? This is one
of the questions which We are solicited to address
| 10 Bshop hughes, publicly.
The collegiate grounds at Fordham were we un-
derstand, purchased by subscription. They, and
the buildings thereon, have been conveyed, for a
consideration much larger than was paid for them
originally, to the Society OF Jesus, who conduct
the college thcrethe price, we believe, being forty
thousand dollars. The Jesuits have agreed to pay
to Bishop Hughes the interest on this sum annual
ly, until the whole principal is paid. In regard TO
this matter, the Catholic public, we are confident
from what we have heard and from the tenor of
the communications which we have received,
would like to know what becomes of the interest
on this large sum of forty thousand dollars. They
would like to know, too, why the whole of that
property was not conveyed; and why portion Of
1t was reserved, on which the brother-in-law of
Bishop Hughes l,ves.s S4zr~r --.-arn
The next subject is the Lafarge estate. The Ca
tholcs of New York would like to know how that
large property Is conducted, and what becomes of
the rents, issues, and profits Report says that
brother of the Bishop, who was few years ago
poor weaver, with brogues and corduroy breeches,
lives on it IN splendid style; but it rs not known by
what authority, or whether he pays any rent or
not for it, If he does, it would be well for the
| public TO know the way in which it is disposed
OF, and whether II in accordance with the nten.
ton of the original contributors.
| Now, here are three important and grave matters
connected with the administration of the Catholic
church in this city and diocese, on which the pub
lie are very anxious to obtain satisfactory infor
nation. In all these inquiries we do not mean
| to make the slightest reflection or imputatien
on the high character Of Bishop Hughes. As
Bishop OF the Church-as man of the world
or citizen of this republic, we believe HIM to
posse SIS all the best principles of integrity pIety
| and learning He is one Of the best specimens of
The energy and success OF natural talent and
! genius. From the humble position of a gardener,
| digging and delying at Emmetsburgh, as Adam
did in Eden, he has risen to be Bishop of the
highest rank in the Catholic Church. The Catho-
lie community in these regions are deslrous of
asceraining the position of their church property
and fnsnces-and Bishop Hughes is the best
source at which to apply aud get the necessary in
formation. Surely, Bishop Hughes will not hesitate
TO give full explanation. When he undertakes
TO do SO, we beg Of HIM also to state In what way
he disposes of the eight or ten thousand francs
which he annually receives from France, for the
support of poor cergymcn of the Catholic persua-
slon in his diocese 1t is well known that all of
his infe rior clergy have congregations, and that it
is seldom or never call is made upon the money
thus annually received by the Bishop. These mat
tiers have reference at all to canon law, and an
SwerDg these questions will not at all detract from
tiePicus dignity of the Bishop, nor take from him
one icta Ct the power which he, In the absence of
canon law, exercises over those subject to it, 1t
may be said that these questions are Impairment,
and that we have no right to ask them; but
they are pertinent and proper, and, as public
journalist. we are bound, if we fulfil our duty, to
ask heni, II is the; duty of the press to correct
abuses, wherever they develope themselves
whether IN The pulpit or In the legislature. Is
an impcninent question TO ask what becomes o
those vast revenues drawn from the pockets of the