The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-11-22

Roman Catholic Church Property
From the Newark Daily Advertiser, Nov. ILL
The following correspondence, which has recently
taken place between the trustees of St Peters
Church Al Beleslie and Bishop Bayley will be read
With interest. The question as 10 whether the
church property should be vested Ia the Bishop or
trustees Of the churches has long been subject OF
controversy among the Catholics in deren. parts OK
the country, and IA. Bedini, the Popes Nuncio, now
in this country. appears to have been charged with
the duty Of settling the trouble His decision 10 the
case Of st. Louis Church at Buffalo, it will be re
membered was in favor of the Bishop, and the trs-
tees resist it the ground that the temperatures DE-
long to themselves. The trustees at Believile now
ever in consequence of the decision, have volunt ry
acceded to the principle as laid down by NJ Bedini,
and resign the temporaties hitherto vested In them,
to ecclesiastical authority. This is we believe the
first case Of voluntary submission to the decision
The correspondence is as follows
TIE CATHOLIC TRUSTEES ST. PKrERs CHURCH, BMLEyILIE,
n. J. TO THEIR PASTOR -
REy AND DEAR SIR We, the undersigned trustees of
ST. Peters Church. Bellevle, New Jersey hope win
not Of place IL of c ana
Right Rev Bishop the joy feel at his elevation 70 the
episcopal dignity over us and the entire State OF New
Jersey We also full OF gratitude to the Sovereign
PoLn having made the spiritual children OF one
whom and families already regard with vsneration
and love- and whose for the greater glory OF
God and the welfare of souls, will obsy with
simplicity and alacrity.
We also take this opportunity Of declaring to you
Rev. pastor and through you also to RI Rev. Bishop
that from motives Of conscience and in order to stand
strict conformity with the laws and discipline of the Ca
thoc Church lately planned to Ger ain trustees in
Buffalo BY the Nunco Of his Holiness we divest
Of all supervision local ecclesas a of
church, feeling, the Nuncio has said, "Nothing
can be exclusively subject to the ,lssasca min
istry than such kind Of revenue and that the eier
ings At and contributions for being made only
for the OF divine SERVICE such revenues are
bat the direct result Of the sacred ministry and conse
quenty must be subject to the free administration Of
&C ,lesiasiical authority
Too well know Catholics the ruin and desolation
tate Protestant Countries of Europe since Henry VIII,
Calvin aud the others of them sacrlegiou wrested their
subjected them to lay control If ever Protestant laws
should accord us any sinful privilege of this sort,
bishop and clergy in the free discharge OF their
duty" On the contrary, II. from some civil cause
or other, obliged to use such privilege we would in
tie words Of the Nuncio of the Vicar of Christ
sarth make it duty to consult the principles
Of faith, 10 ascertain when and how We ought to
it, and would feel bound in such crisis to
Indeed fully convinced that to act otherwise would
not only be to deviate from what owe to the highest
authority Of the Catholic Church, but from being
her faithful children devoted to the Right Rev.
Pelste whom the Vicar Of Christ has sent to govern u.s.
mediate pastor remain, humble servants in Christ
TIuste,-George McCloskey, John Graham John Colin,
Michael Barrett John Finn
Secretary-pat lex Smith.
Signed on the Feast Of the Patronage Of the Immacu
late Mother of God
Beleville n. j., Nov. Is, 1858.
BISHOP BAYLEYS REPLY.
Bishops HOUSE. NEWARK, Nov 16, 1858
Rev. AND DEAR siR:-l have received aud real With
pleasure the letter addressed you oy Of st.
Peters Church. Bellevle and watch you transmitted to
for my perusal.
l. course regard their resignation of Office rather as
matter Of form than anything ese for entertaining
such sentiments not likely to abuse the trust
mitted to Them and under other you will
doubt find them useful auxilares in the management of
the temporal Affairs of your parish.
Still could not but be pleased with the sound and
correct views which their letter exhibits in regard to the
important paLter of the administration Of church
nue and the which they give for the
OF an Office which, regret TO has account of the
abuse made of it, become odious Ny late petition
Secretary to the Most Rev. Archbishop Of New YORK;
has given opportunity Of becoming fully acquainted
with the bad effects of the old trustee system formerly
carried out and OF the advantages to which have
resulted from the adopting of those true Catholic prn
cipas Of administration which he substituted in its place.
There can be but one opinion among Catholics,-whe-
ther clergy laty-n regard to the position taken by
the trustees of st Louis Church. Buffalo II carried out,
it would make them, and not the Bishop the real gov
power in the church. 1t tvident that If they
bad been God Catholics all grounds Of dispute betweea
them and heir holy jealous bishop, would have been
long since removed rather would have existed
/ regard the prevalence Of sound and views
upon this subject amongst the laty Of the docess OF
Newark favorable augury for the peacsfulness and
property of my future administration We all ALIKE
bishop priest and people but interest in the
mater-tne honor the glory, and prosperity of Gods
church. which should be ceArer to than all else be-
saea aud trust and PRAYER is that whatever may
have IT In our power to do for the extension and more
establishment of our holy religion in this State may
be done in the spirit OF Christianity unity AM cha
rty.
fbeg you to convey to the late Trustees Of St. Psr'a
Church the expression of my kind regard.
remain with sincere respect very truly yours
flames. Bishop Of Newark.
Rev JOHN HOGAN, Pastor Of st. Peters Church, Belle
VILE J.