The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-27
THE END OF A RELIGIOUS QUARREL.

MAKES HIS SUBMISSION TO THE CHURCH
AFTER MORE THAN SIX YEARS sTRIHE.
DUBLIN. July ~. 1872
The name OF Father O'Keefe. the parish priest Of
Calan. in the county of Kilkenny. is not stranger
to the columns Of the HERALD Many of its readers.
upon seeing the name again, after long interval.
will not fail to be reminded Of the great ce5re
of six years ago, in which an Irish parish priest
had the courage to bring into tho courts
cardinal. prince of the Church, and while i'm
peaching his conduct to vindicate strenuously the
rights of the priesthood against the encroachments
of the episcopae. Both before that memorable suit
and since Father OKeefe has fought vigorous legal
battles in defence of his clims 1t has been very
long story, very tangled skein not only intricate
and puzzing. but showing very various hues
cording to the point from which it was looked
at But it is now all The angry
controversy is set at rest-forever, it
may be hoped, although where Father O'Keefe is
concerned it will not do to be oversanguine. At
any rate. he has "made his submission" to his
Bishop has retracted his unpalatabe doctrines and
has declared his regret for his characterization.
This has been done formal document of great
explictness. and it's publication in the press is
only PRONUNCIATION Of what already known in
we'll informed circles for some time past. The fol-.
lowing is an exact copy OF the document. which
written by his own hands
=
My LORD BIsHor-I desire earnestly to be reconced
with my bishop and the Church of God.
my SINCERE resre. TOR al the scandal and dis
fr-By my acts words and writings against the Holy
Secondly bringing before tho civil tribunals the late
caEsna Cullen fG the exercise ere: q II: prsqs a%ao.y
sa os er Dr. a and ssn ns " the
have given up the possession OF all the property Of
Says hsS
humby seek absoution from all the consures and regu
am willing. furthermore, to make any reparaticn for
pai 10 wnsh Yr Lorsp may think
done against ecclesiastical authority and discip
ss
ROBERT o'KEEFE.
THE EccLEsrAsrIcAL WAR
And so exit Father OKeefe, in whom some good
natured English people-more ignorant OF the real
state of things in reanI than they Of King
Cetywayo's realm--fattered themselves they dis
cerned the apostle OF new Irish reformation. lie
not destined TO be even obstinate D0llinger
perhaps because circumstances were too much for
him. In all ages the ar0umentu ad c,r.neNam par
tcularly in the form OF pinching want and
even moderate starvation. has been found
the pastor Of Callan being for
many months reduced to the dlrest straits Has the
dropped out of mems minds? 1t may well have
done 3d. Father Robert O'Keefe was q clever man.
requirements. Ho had smattering of the modern
oiogies" and thought that it would be well II the
rising Of boys AND girls were rned in
setting up school OF his own in his town OF
Callan and becoming the head schoolmaster himself.
Neither his conduct nor his opinions were held in
favor by his brother priests They particularly
d,spleasing to his bishop-Dr. Walsh, an old man,
choleric aud obstinate to the last degree. He was
not burdened with much OF the learning which
OKeefe took pleasure in exhibiting ut all eccesas
cal gatherings, many persons Thought more for
the bishop would take the hrst opportunity to clip
his wings.
o'KEErE AND THE NUNS.
Father OKeeie used to criticse the teaching quail
ihcations of the nuns who conduct many OF the
female schools In Ireland, aud his criticisms were
perhaps more true than hattering. He got into some
quarrel with convent of nuns which was within
his pastoral charge and another priest had for peace
sake to take up his duties. Soon afterward he pro-
posed to introduce some French nuns. but the
Bishop forbade 1t, and upon keeies demonstrating
rather holly the Bishop said something to this
take care OF nunsi who would trust them
to your" The remark made in jeer-
censorous. OKeefe was indignant, and. affecting to
believe that the Bishop meant to nsinuate he
likely to be guilty Of immoral conduct he prosecuted
the Bishop ON charge OF libel and obtained YER
dict giving him $3.50 damages. To bring the Bishop
rectly out OF dealings connected with ecclesiastical
affairs Is serious offence according to the Canon
Law. The Bishop forthwith got square
suspended him from his parish. But this
declaration OF the Bishop. having been made with
out previous compliance with certain formaitios,
itself null and destitute OF canonical effect.
This o keefe who was much better canonist than
the Bishop. knew we'll and he openly despised tho
whole proceeding. parading his contempt for tho
Bishop. Then there ensued series of monitions,
censures. condemnations and suspensions ON the
part of the Bishop. to which O'Kecfe responded by
actor after action in the law courts. II most
scandalous business. and the palm Of edihcation
could hardly be assigned to either side.
PROSECUTING THE CARDINAL.
At last the Propaganda asked Cardinal Cullen to
20 ss tie IT, Smu n w
aconference. The hero of Callan proceeded to dis
the affair as II he had been on equal terms But
he became suspicious. abruptly broke on all com
munications and refused to receive even letter
from tho Cardinal. The latter then took the
Of his conduct; but oKsefe rcfusod to ap-
pear, and ut last Cardinal Cullen issued o
dsSreo asprvns him of his parish; This his
parish church At Callan, and naturally produced a
great sensation. not only in that neighborhood but
Cardinal for libel his favorte charge, aid after pro-
racted legal arguments and long trial the Jury
assessed his damages at one farthing lhalf n cent?
In other words, the Cardinals proceeding might
have been technically = libel, but O'Keeie's
ec '.. cnafaeter was worthless; After
verdict as against the Cardinal But Okcefe
went to new trial. Meantime there
bishop IN the diocese OF kilkenny-or Ossory. to
give 1t its proper ecclesiastical designation. Father
Okeefe proceeded to continue the quarrel with
him and to institute suits against every one
who vensured to crticse him in any way. Tie feel.
ings OF soreness and irritation became gradually
worse The Bishop appointed q new parish priest
own disposscssion. He kept the keys OF the church
and would not allow the priest to
oiiciato. Some daring spirits broke opon the DOORS
aud they did worse While he was temporarily abb
sent they broke INTO his residence damaged the fur
niturc anu destroyed many of his books. There was
no Justification for those acts of Vandalism The
leading rioters arrested and criminaly prose-
cuted. But the jury acquitted them, believing that
they considered Father p'Kecfe was n trcspasser
holding adverse possession OF the parochal resi-
dence to which he had no longer any title.
HIS SUBMISSION
II Is useless 10 on with the recital of the SCI na
lous scenes of which Caan the theatre
Two or three attempts at reconciliation were
made, but they all miscarricd. O'Kecfe was in re-
coipt OF contributions from various sympathxcrs in
England, and being thus placed beyond tho
pressure OF want no hoped to weary out tho
ecclesiastical authorities and force them to allow
him to reain the parish. But no ought to have
known better. To nave lot him remain at Callan
would DO to leave him in possession OF
all the fruits Of victory which would be manifestly
impossible. He ought to have known well the
strength of the Catholic organization. 1t can afford
TO wait, and Is to outlast the life of its most