The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-06-15
esening Star and Catholic Messenger
From Our Own Correspondent.
OUR IRISH LETTER.
DUBLIN, May 20, 1873.

OUR IRISH LETTER.
DUB11N, May %, 1873.
Tho chief domestic event of the week is the
result of the great Callan trial. ihat [esgl'
10 o verdict for the plaintiff, Father o'Keeffe
with One Farthing Damages! Even thus
for Father OKeefo. 1t would look like vir
tual defeat for him rather than victory. And
when all is told, it will seem tremendous de-
feat for that unhappy, priest. The fact 10, the
sJuaEe-Chief Justice Whiteside-to find o YER
dict for the plaintiff on all the issues. Again
and again were they told by this functionary
that they should do nothing but assess the
damages. And whom, after the Judge's charge
was over, they came into court saying they
could not agree, they were once more directed
and to assess the damages. The result is that
everybody perceives that the verdict IL not the
Jury's verdict at all, but Chief Justice White
But before say any more on this point, let
me give o brief resume of the facts of the case.
The plaintiff, Father O'Keetfe, is Parish
Priest Of some ten years. standing in tho do
Ience that be- was disting uished student in
Maynooth, having been on the Dunboyne es.
tablishnent with DR.. Moriarty. Bishop Of
Other distiu guished Catholic ecclesiastios: His
writings-tLat 10. his letters aud his fighting
in this case-show him to he o man OF very
good abilities and considerable learning. The
Archbishop of Dublin, need not say any
thing of beyond that although not liked for
his action in political matters-in which, in
deed, he does not NEEDLE very much after all
he 10 yet deeply respected and revered az q
most learned, able, mild and piOus bishop. In
ono respect the two men differ most widely.
While the Cardinal is most humble and unas-
suming, Father OKeeffe 10 SO far from hiding
his light under g bushel, that he is continually
boosting of his own requirements and abilities,
and trumpeting forth his good qualities; and.
that it is his self. concet and pride of intellect
that have driven him into the deplorable pass
in which he now stands before the world.
Three or four years ago Father O'Keefe hav-
ing established in his parish, in addition to
thor school, attempted also to found nunnery
in Oallan, whose inmates should teach the
female youth of the place. To make q long
story short, his Bishop, the late DR.. Walsh,
O'Keefe's story, about the establishment of
nunnery; refused, when applied to by Father
Rsse to give letter permitting the intro
conference Of the clergy sharply rebuked Fa-
thes O'Keef!e, in presence of his two curates,
on his conduct in the matter. The result of
this was that Father O'Keeffe called upon the
Bishop by letter to withdraw the language he
had uttered, and when no reply was vouch-
safed, served him with O summons and plant
for libel. This was action No. 1. 1t was just
neous 6eng tried 10 the 2Geens Bench when
OKeeffe the $500 that had been expended on
SAe building intended for the mus, and paying
I'll costs. This was the beginning of all, and
your readers will soc at once who was chiefly
20 blame for the scandal caused by this at
tempted lawsuit of priest against his Bishop.
II 10 quito plain that Father O'Keefe should
to bring the nuns to Callan. after his Bishop
had disapproved of his project; and it ia
equally plain that If he was libelled by his
Bishop, he should have appealed to an ecclesi.
nd W. IN lar- trsN~ r.
Bat things were not to eud here. A "missionD
by the Oblate Fathers was gotten up by Father
OKeeffe, to raise funds for executing some re.
pairs which the Bishop had ordered, aud for
other purposes, and q statement in reference
to the disposal of the funds derived from this
naission was made by Father O'Keeffe one Sun
doy from the altar of the parish chapel. Next
Sunday, in Father O'Kecffe's absence. ono ~
tho Bishop, some points in this statement OF
this Father Okeeffe made complaint to the
BishoP, epplying for the removal of the two
curates from his parish, and threa tenipp to
bring an action against them unless this apnli.
cation was complied with. Imagine a priest
Insisting" on the removal Of o curate and die
sting to his Bishop! Here again Father
peaiing to the lay courte. He brought action
Against his curate for libel, and through the
Sisnop not having been able to give evidence,
Protestants, q verdict with GlOO dams gea VS.
obtained. This was action number two. mt
the verdict was afterwards cot aside on lerai
grounds, and q new trial had, which. howeycr
resulted in favor of Father OKeeffa Win in,
creased damages. Here were three actions
Another-the fourth-wss brought against his
other eurate by Father O'Keeffe-also for Iiaei.
and, like the second aud third, resnitaS ~
damages being awarded. But there were more
actions. DR.. Mcdonald, the Vicar.Generai If
She diocese, acting for the Bishop, Issued n
suspension to Father 0'Keeffe, for having, in |
going to law in a lay court, violated the canon
iST and given grave scandal, the sentence to
Sake eject the moment Father O'Keeffs's conn |
eel began to open his case against the curate |
rather Okeefe simply laughed at this suspen. |
sion, declaring it null and void. Soon aftsr.
G Tardss DR.. Mcdonald. suspecting that Father
Okeehe meant TO raise some technical oL;ec.
ton to the sentence, issued another suspension
Hith AL the formalities, published it, and had
Rather O'Keeffe dismissed from the chaplaincr
OF Callsn WoIkhouse. Father O'Keefie's an.
swer was, again, summons and plant. In.
stead of appealing to DIR. McDonaId'o eccIesias.
Licei suPeriors, he treated the suspension al n
iloSi on his character, and brought an action
IN the Queens bench against Dr. McDonaIi
4hen the Bishop, seeing that Father O,KeetFa
vas growing incorrigible, sent him a snsneno
sion e. iUorndtd conscienta "a susnenrio,
Thieh' need not tell the clerical readers ~
sno STAR, Bishop can pronounce witbout ~;
hn,,;