The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-12-13
The Apostato Priest Jacquemes.


of the case of Reverend Mr.. Jacqueme'
who apostatized recently in Baltimore.
The account referred to, which was cop'eo
from the Baltimore american, states that
Mr.. Jacuuemet was one of most popular
nriests in Baltimore, is we'll informed, etc,
and that on the 22od of October the Arch
bishop of Baltimore gave him an official
certificate of good character. That the
public may appreciate, at its proper value,
the character of Mr.. Jacquemet, we publish
the following letter from Archbishop Bay
ley:
ARcHB1sHop's HOUSE,
Baltimore, Nov. 20, 1874.
ITO the Editor of the Baltimore Gazette.
"As l was certain that in o short time
those who had taken the Rev. Mr.. Jaque-
met In hand would find out by sad expert
ence the sort of person he was, had made
up nv mind not to take any public notice
of.the matter. If he had quietly left the
Catholic Church, and Joined the Presby-
terians, or any other religious denomination,
should have said nothing at oil, but as
the statement that he las induced several
of the papers to make yesterday that he was
a priest in good standing, an-' had received
a certificate from the Archbishop, declaring
that theIe-Mas no imputation upon his
character, is one that is calculated to create
q false impression, I have been urged to
make brief statement in regard to him.
Mr. 7 91emet was never formally re-
eeived ,u.o this Diocese. He owed such
position ms he had in it to my com missera-
ton for "A poor priest with q somewhat iu-
jared reputation. He had formed the
habit of using preparations of opium some
years ago, as he told me, to correct the bad
effects caused by Mississippi water when
o1l ba fha ri n
the performance of his Missionary duties.
Soon after had received him into my
house, found that he sometimes INDUCED
in more active stimulants, and then told
him that it would be impossible for me to
give him permanent situation in my
Diocese.-He begged SO hard of me to give
him another trial, that persuaded the
good Father McColgan, Of st. Peters
church, to receive him at least for time,
in order to test the sincerity of his prom.
Uses. His conduct at st. Peters was 80
unworthy of priest, and began to create
withdraw his faculties, and to declare to
him in the most positive terms, that
..buld do no more for him. But though l
wished to get rid of him, he would not give
me up, and again so won upon my pity by
his earnest declarations as to his destitute
and miserable condition, that1 prevailed
mon the Abbot of La Trappe, at Gethese-
name in kentucky, to receive him into his
monestry. in the hope that under the quiet
and solemn influences of the place, he
might enter into himself and reform. 1t
may not be out of the way for me to men
ton that during this time his expenses
were paid by myself.
After remaieing for some months al
Gethsemane, he left the monastery. and
returned to Baltimore in the face OF my
declarations that neither could nor would
give him anything to do, although ! in
formed him that would provide Tor hlm a.
long as he remained at La Trappe. Upor
his arrival refused to see him, but sent
him some assistance. He, however, forced
himself into my presence, and when re.
fused to restore his faculties, he became
very much excited, and intimated to me al
he left the house that he would commit
p. suicide. Sometime after he wrote to me
that he was utterly destitute, and agar
u begged of me to have mercy on him. He
: said he knew in Cuba some of the priests
OF the Mission, to which congregation ht
had formerly belonged, and that if woult
give sihi q GeftiAcaJe that he was not sus
Sended, that they would probably give MN
aomething to do as o teacher: In orde
not to dive him into despair, gave him
faw short lines in Latin, merely stating tina
that he had for q ehort time exerciseo tn
orS;nary faculties given in this Diocese
and that he was not, as far as kne"
under ecclesiastical censure.
The withdraw OF the ordinary iao"'S'Es
although it takes away the power to ceie
brate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, or t
odm;nister any of the Sacramento of tn
Church, is not "ceneure" in the eoclesiat
teal sense Of the world, Such o letter 81 9
the one that gave to MI. Jaq1emeG az
c.srs To what are called in heraldry ''car
ting arms" so called because they do nt
carry their meaning on their face, but sus
gest inquiry; No Bishop would la, receive i've,
R1.;thopt first obtaining further informatio
80 far from declaring that every thing
all right, such brief letters show that the
is something wrong, since good priest
moved to another Diocese, would bear WI
liz, of only n mere negative declarati'
that t he was not under any ecclesiaetic
canspre. hut positive and full stateme
in regard to his wcrthiness and yea, zeal ..,.
The above is a simple and true stat
- Of NV connection with Mr.. Jaquem
Itnow turns out that at the very time I'll
was supporting him out OF my o,