The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-11-25
CATHOLIC INTOLERANCE.
A Curious Case In Waferville.

A curious case was tried last week before
Watervlle justice. 1t seems an Irish lad
named Gallagher died and his parents decided
to bury his remains in the Protestant instead Of
the Catholic cemetery. The pastor of the
Catholic church, Rev. Father Halde, looked
upon this as violation of the church rules and
publicly in his church cautioned his people not
to attend the funeral. After he got through
Mr.. James Cavanaugh arose and said he should
attend the funeral, adding that he considered i.
no disgrace to do so. The priest told him to
shut his mouth and ordered him to leave the
church. Cavanaugh refused and lively COLO
guy ensued between the irate parishioner and
the still more irate priest. After while they
were quoted, however, and Father Halde pro-
ceeded with the service. The next day, how
ever, he lodged complaint against Cava-
naugh sfor disturbing religious services and
hearing was had before Trial Justice Soule
The complainant and defendant acted as their
own counsel
The latter plead that he had been driven to
object to the expressions of his priest in exact
ing money from the poor mem bers of his
charge. That the origin of the question about
the burial of young GallagnerJ began in his re-
fusal to visit him on his death. bsd, when re-
quested by the mother. He demanded CON-
siderable sum of money, withous which he said,
"Your boy may die like dog" After the
boys death the sister went to plead with Father
Halde for the privilege of having some relig-
ious services at the church, and was refused,
with the assurance that her brother was already
in hell. These things, Cavanaugh said, were Of
piece with the priests general customs, and
that he had borne them as long as he could.
He had uttered his protest as briefly and as
gently as he could, at the most proper time,
and with no intention to make disturbance.
Rev. Mr.. Hade, the plaintiff, claimed that
he acted, in forbidding Catholics to attend the
funeral, by special direction of his Bishop,
and in conformity with church rules. His
custom was, he saic, to assess his parishioners,
for his support; that their names were kept in
book for this purpose, and that when they
called upon him for attendance or other
favors in sickness or on funeral or other oc-
casions, bis custom was to inquire if they CON-
trbuted to his support, and had met their
obligations by payment; and if their reply was
that they had not, he sad to them, "Wny then
| should meet my engagements to you?'' He
said his rule was in such cases to refuse all
calls to visit the sick or render other religious
aid. He appealed to the court to establish the
| justice of the course. He said that at the time
| OF the disturbance charged, he had stated to
his audience the orders of his Bishop to ex-
communicate the dead boy, and forbid all good
Catholics to attend the funeral. Mr.. Halde
said these directors had given him much
| trouble, which, If not stopped must result in
his removal from this church, and that this
suit was brought for the purpose of "breaking
| him down."
Justice Soale after several DAYS cousidera-
ton of the case found the defendant guilty
under the statute to prevent disturbance Of
| religious meetings and fined him cent. An ap-
peal was taken to higher court