The New York herald., 1875-08-31
REFRACTORY CLERGYNEN.
Excitement Over Church Troubles
in Louisville.
BISHOP MCLOSKEY AND TIE PRIESTS.
A Refusal TO Submit Church Accounts to the
Diocesan Board.

LOUISVILLE KY August 90, 1875
For little time past there has been considerable
excitement and discussion among the Roman Catholics
this city the removal and suspension Of several
priests in this diocese by the Right Rev. Bishop Nc
coskey Bishop Of this diocese. The Rev.
Lawrence Box pastor Of St. Johns church, IN
lhis city, was removed to Bowling Green; Father
Defrane, from Lebanon TO Nazareth; Rev Mr. Devres,
Df Bowling Green was ordered Hardnsburg but re-
fused TO go, and suspended He appealed to Rome
from the Bishops decision Father Box has been pas
tor OF St Johns Church. which he founded nineteen
years ago HIS congregation very unwilling to have
him GO and appealed the Bishop but he was hrm in
his purpose The trouble from the Bishop requr-
ing the priests to make annual report of hnancA
matters the said report TO be aesed by two lay mem
of the congregation. This Father Box objected
10, he regarded 1t degradation to have his re-
ports examined by lay members Rev. Mr. Deyrles has
gone Cincinnati to endeavor TO obtain the indorse
ment OF Archbishop Purcell prior to visiting Rome to
laythe matter before the head of the Church there
Bishop McCloskey yesterday laid the matter before his
congregation The following is his statement of the
BISHOP M'cLosKRY's STATEMENT.
A pastor OF one Of the city churches had been re-
moved; the immediate Of the difficulty.
but the whole trouble had its origin further back 1t
had grown out Of the fact that he he Bishop wanted
to know the financial condition OF the churches in his
sibility could be assumed by any other person.
Apart from the responsibility as Bishop, il was an
ordinary business act. He wanted to know precisely
what the financial condition Of his diocese; hence
he required various parish priests 10 render yearly
statements of the financial condition OF their churches
This thing; it done all large dioceses
East; II done in the diocese OF the Cardinal
Archbishop of New York, in the archdiocese
Of Baltimore, in the diocese OF Boston and
other diocescs. They render their accounts
every year. so that cardinal archbishop archbishop
knows how much their churches are in debt But
hen a o U
he render accounti This no small matter; it
involved many thousands OF dollars; hence five years
ago he sent circular calling for this iniormation
hree since he sent out anoher last year he sent
put third, and this letter issued in accordance
With the decree of the Diocesan Synod, held on
list of July, 1874 which required that these accounts
houd be rendered every year before the LIST Of August
In the absence of such information it often impos
nbe especially IN the case OF the death OF the PASTOR
10 tell what belonged TO the priest and what TO the
congregation and sometimes in such the Church
had to let all TO the relatives Of the deceased clergy
man TO prevent public scandal 1t an old
law in this diocese, but had never been enforced
Some time before he the Bishop left for Europe he d
rooted that these financial be furnished and
while he absent the pastor of st. Johns church
strove to make disturbance and prevent the handing
OF the reports He the other side Of the diocese
what he did there the Bishop did not know but he went
70 Bethlehem and there said to young priest Have
you sent in your accountf"
The young clergyman answered 'cNo, have not but
intend to do So"
'Well said the pastor of ST Johns, 81 would not
submit TO such degradation"
The young priest responded by saying that he con-
sldered II Tar more degrading TO refuse compliance with
the instructions of his bishop
Hence no letter was addressed TO the pastor of St
Johns notifying him Of his removal He was
told that he removed Tor attempting
to discomfort and nsubordnation
among Of the priests of the diocese. He could
take these words and carry them with him 10 Rome
There was nothing more painful to the bishop than
De called upon discharge such duty this but the
blder and the higher the priest the injurious He
iid not remove young men who had neglected to
larry the Instructions he had simply transferred
hem TO other spheres OF duty but he had suspended
older priest who should have known his duty better
He had Fathers Bouchet and Dunn to Rome to
represent him. He thoroughly in earnest, and
therefore intended to this affair settled He had
great confidence in the reverend fathers who would rep
resent him at Rome He satisfied that Justice
any one but the widest rumors had been put FORTH
md he intended that the truth should be indicated
or all priests in the diocese only had been dire
ici In this particuar-two in the neighborhood of
Lebanon and ST. Charles the third here and fourth
At Bowling Green-the latter beiug suspended The
great body OF the clergy faithful aud obedlent
EDUCATION
Another charge had been commented on with some
disfavor. The Rev. Father Chambege Superior of the
Sisters Of Charity Of the Order Of Nazareth had
been replied TO by Rev. Dr. Coughlin. Now why
was this doneS Why, because during the
absence OF the Bishop in Europe Father
Chambege wrote to the pastor OF ST Bridgcts
shurch in this city; that h against rules for good
Dwn sex When shown the letter upon my return
rom Europe came to the conclusion that this vener
able clergyman would do better other sphere Of
duty. Being Bishop, responsible for the education of
lhe children could not but act promptly and decisvely
In the premises.