The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-06
FATHER KIRWAN'S APPEAL.


DOES CANON LAW EXIST IN rHIS COUNTRY p
CONFLICTING OPINIONS ON THE QUESTION.
The controversy between Father Krwan ana Bishop
Corrigan, OF Newark has created little excitement
In tho doceses comprising the metropolitan ecc.es:as
teal province OF New York. The statement OF Bishop
Corrigan 10 HERALD representative, as published
Mondays HERALD, that canon law does no. exist IN
THIS country. has gvon rise TO among
the clergy, not only in the diocese Of Newark,
but IN the archdoceses of New York aud Philadelphia
prominent theologan in the diocese OF Newark.
who is the author Of several works canon law ana
who finished hts studies in the Propaganda, declares
that the position assumed by Bishop Corrigan Is un-
tcnabIe member OF the Bishops council states
that ho voted for complete and impartial triai IN
Father Krwans case and that he dsapproved entirely
the so called trial proposed by the Bishop wherein
the deposcd pastor required to accept part OF
the res geste testimony taken ex parte.
"Ihis Is really case that very plain to my
mind, said an eminent divine OF tho archdiocese OF
New York to HERALD representative. 81 think
Bishop Corrigan has not been correctly quoted tor
Bishop in this country will undertakeio deny the ex-
islencc OF canon law. II canon law does not
exist no cannot assume tho title OF bishop.
10 will simply DO vicar apostolic. Neither
can DC ordain priests once year, as is
now tho custom. There are three conditions under
monte, when tho candidate for priesthood must fur
Dish proof that he has property to support himself;
secondly htaio m,ss,ons. which is, freely translated
"Tbc laborer Is worthy oil his hren in other words
tho Bishop must appoint him to some MISSION l..
which he can be supported, and thirdly, fuio ysfig-
onis, which has no bearing this questions every
community Of tho regular clergy PROVIDES for the
maintenance oil It's own members.
REPoRTER-rhen you assert that canon law exists
in TINS country
ASswKR-Most assuredly to u certain extent. 1t
exists 10 the fullest extent not only Iay, In
Ireland, whore Its sencc ed
and IN Belgium, when has iIruishcu us with pre-
found writer's ON canon law, and which 10 this day
supplies The United states and other countries with
many priests. With respect to the the case
as between Bishop Corrg.n and Father Kirwan de-
cline TO express any OPINION. as l am uuacquaiu ed
with the lucts. The only information received was
through the HERALD.
| kEpoRrER-Whcre do you draw the line between
removal ana suspension III the case Of priest who
| ILLS me Office OF pastory
| ASswEg-I draw line whatever. Removal,
though technically not SUSPENSION, Is virtually
Deprvation OF Office ones parish is ipso Jaco sus
pension That has mover been denied.
A HERALD reporter called on Father Kirwan in ref.
erence controversy, ana made the following
statement:--I was surprised the charges pre-
ierred against me Tor the first time Ia HERALD,
had repeatedly asked my Bishop to furnish me with a
COPY oil the charges, but he refused The fuct that
was lrst notified OF those charges through the col.
umns Of a secular paper Will be one OF the strong
points IN my favor before the Holy See Tho Bishops
letters IN my possession will prove that he refused
REpoRrER-havc you any objection to produce
those lettersy
AxswER- Certainly. 1t would be contempt of tho
ecclesiastical court which my must be Judged
VIII forward the entire correspondence TO Rome,
aud you will excuse me II decline to say any thing
further the subject
REroRrER-But do you deny the charges tho Bishop
makes AZ inst your
AyswEx-Well, l hardly know yet what are tho
specific charges. In his letters he charges with
bad temper ana difficulty oil living peaceably with my
congregation, and in his interview with tho HERALD
reporter he says detained the Sisters. deny thos
charges ana insist they ought to be
7 The Bishol that he treated with Kindness
That Kindness consisted III expcilhg me, without the
slightest warning, from my parish, deprivng me OF
my tuuctions in that parish aud RELOCATING me to
hotel IN Jersey city, where was obliged TO remain
Tor u month before tho Bishop would give any ex-
| PLANTATION whatever. Then was degraded by an ap.
pointment as assistant pastor in Elizabeth where ]
| now oihciate.
Tho Holy has Just rendered another decision in
the OF pastor In the diocese OF Detroit Mch
against BIsnop Borgess. The Bishop II appears, not
only removed the pastor from his charge, but alter
ward denounced btu from the pulpit The aggrieved
priest appealed Romo aud the OF the Bishop
has been reversed. Ii Is declared in tho Judgment
that tho Bishop stall only tho pas tor
his charge but shall make public apology the In
pjury he done him. This case was anulog GUS 10
that IN the diocese OF Louisville and to the presen
controversy In the diocese OF Newark.