New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-28
Communicated
Rev. Father Vaudray's vindicalion.

EDITOR REPUBLICAN:
Numerous and powerful indeed are the
assailants l have to encounter. am Tight
ing at q terrible disadvantage; it is right
against might. Still will not despond::
Small and insignificant appears the drop OF
water; but when impelled by the blasts of
Divine wrath it often becomes the tempests
own crowning drop to wreck TO pieces the
proudest ironclad that ever cruised on the
proud old ocean.
have but one voice to utter the truth,
and one pen to write it. The Very Rev.
Raymond can dispose OF ten thousand
voices to disseminate Islander broadcast
over the land, while the thousand and one
venal pens of so-called Catholic journalists
shall at his bidding be converted into "a
many stilettOs of calulnny to stab and as
sasslnate my good name and reputa ton.
The truth must be told. With few hon
orable exceptions, Catholic journ alists can
not be independent in the expression Of
their opinion. Their essential condition of
existence is that they shall make them
selves the soulIess echoes OF every mandate,
Just or unjust, emanating from the higher
ecclesiastical authorities. Let, for instance,
the Morning Star-which is after all but a
blind star, since there is Rapier running
through it-dare insinuate that the Rev.
Raym has perpetrated foul injustice
against a certain reverend father, and in
pit within his circle of ecclesiastical juris-
dictiOn to denounce and Willy the fearless
editor. Volleys upsn velleys Of abuse shall
assail the Inflated journal. until its list OF
subscribers shall grow beautifully less,"
and finally melt away under the vindictive
breath of a petty ecclesiastical autocrat.
So much for that servile journalism, ever
ready to open its batteries on every poor,
lone, bleeding. unprotected. dust stricken
priest-whose life blood and vital energies
must needs wither away under the relent-
less vengeance Of q bishop or vicar general.
l am proud to acknowledge that ever
since my ordination in June, 1870, l have
been prosecuted and prosecuted and hound
ed from diocese to diocese, not for any
moral misdemeanOr-never!- but on &C.
count of my so-called liberal ideas, viz:
peral power, and especially inveighing in
my sermons against that abject moral
servitude which, under the name
Of spiritual direction, obtains among
numbers of Catholic females and
incites them to vow blind obedience to
their reverend spiritual director. Thanks
to that exc cradle method OF perfection"
which ought to be termed mental prostitu-
ton, woman becomes the slave, emissary
and tool of her spiritual guide. The world
is ruled by woman, aud woman is ruled by
q certain order OF priests-soon to be swept
as q SPIDERS web from the temple of
Catholicism. These words may cost me
my life, for worldwide is the influence of
that Machiavelic order over the Catholic
press and the ignorant masses, both in
Europe and America.
But what crime have I committed! Let
the public hear Mr.. Raymond's answer.
Let him state facts; but let him remember
the tiattering testimonials presented to me
and signed by G. Raymond, vicar general,
and N. j. Perche, archbishop of New Or
leans. Incredible as it may appear, l am
about to prove that Mr.. Raymond, my &C.
| cuser and persecutor. is at the same time,
although most unwilingly, my most elo-
quent advocate in the present lmbrOglio.
In letter addressed to the Rev. Mr.
Mehaut. aud dated April 3. 1873, MIR. Ray
mond writes: "Mr. Vaudray is an excellent
priest, full of the very best dispositions and
very capable Of assisting you."i
In a letter addressed to me, and dated
July 10, 1875. Mr.. Raymond writes: "The
Rev. L. A. Vaudrsy, native of Canada,
and priest of this archdiocese, is highly
commendable for his zeal and piety."
In another letter, likewise addressed to
me, and dated November 81, 1875, Mr.. Ray
mOnd writes: II believe in your good moral
character, and l promise you letters of
recommendation, whose tenor shall secure
your admission in some other diocese"
The promised ''letter of Recommendation, -
dated December 9, 1875, reads as follows:
1--WE sincerely recommend the Rev. T. A.
Vaudray to any bishop he may apply to, as
priest not only free from all censure, as
far as we know, but also full Of talent and
good will, and will do well in tbs place in
trusted to him."
In fourth letter to me, Mr.. Raymond
writes in this eulogistic strain:
New ORLEANS, April 81, 1875.
My Dear Mr.. vaudray:
Mr.. Blancgarin being about to leave the
parish Of West Baton Rouge, the arch
bishop thinks that you will do very we'll in
his place, and does hereby appoint YOU
pastor of said parish.
You have more than the requisites to sue.
coed in your new position, viz: A solid
piety, talents which would meet with sue
cess in the most exalted positions in the
church, great zeal for the glory of God
and the salvation of souls. feel confident
with you and that you shall be pleased
with them. They shall profit by your in
structiOns and become more and more fer.
vent in the discharge of their religious du.
ties.
May the Lord bless you, and pray much.
my dear Mr.. Vaudray. for yours devotedly,
G. RAYMOND,
Vicar General.
Mr.. Rsymond's numerous and glowing
'1etters Of Recommendation" remain in my
possession. They have been inspected and
verified by hundreds of Catholics in New
Orleans and West Baton Rouge. Do they
not suggest the f. flowing insoivable dilem-
ma: l am either honest or dishonest. If
MIR. Raymond chooses to say that am hon
est, then he must be sadly dishonest indeed