The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-28
CATHOLIC CHURCHES.

CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
Meeting to Devise Means to Save tn,
| Property.
The Priests of the Cincinnati Diocese me-
at the Cathedral last evening for the pur
pose OF devising means for resisting tn,
suit which has been brought by the Assig
nee of the Archbishop against the church
property Of this Diocese.
After some discussion 1t was unani-
mously resolved to defend to the last il,
the pending suit the property of the con-
gregations of the Di cese. There was no
difference OF opinion upon this point but
some slight differences as to the best means
to be adopted.
A committee of five was appointed to re.
tain the best legal talent available. The
committee consists OF Father Albrinck,
Father HALEY, DR.. Engbers, Father J. NJ.
Mackey and Father Walburg.
! An expression of the views OF the Cath.
Olic clergy is embodied in the following re-
port: :.
whereas, J. B. Mannix, assignee of Rev.
erend Edward and Most Reverend ]. B.
Purcell, has instituted legal proceedings in
the Court of Common Pleas. Hamilton
County, Ohio, petitionlng said Court to de-
termine various questions effecting the title
OF church property belong ng to the Roman
Catholic Church in Hamilton County,
Ohio, and elsewhere in the Archdiocese Of
Cincinnati, prior 10 the Offering Of said
church property for sale, in order that the
debts Of tile said Edward Purcell and ]. B.
Purcell may be paid; and
whereas, 1t becomes imperative for the
clergy Of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to
employ legal Counsel to determine these
various questions;
Nov. in order that our course in this
matter may not in any way be misnnder-
st cd or misreprrsented, we. the clergy of
Archdiocese of Cincinnati, in general meet
ing legitimatel, assembled. do hereby
Resolved, That 1t Is not the intention
of the clergy of this Archdiocese, through
their counsel, to withhold from execution
any church, school, seminary. hospital,
orphan asylum, or any other church prop.
erty what's ever now in use BY the Roman
Catholics of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati,
whether the title of said property be vested
in the said J. B. Purcell absolutely, or in
trust, when it can be shown that said prop
erty has been acquired by moneys furn-
ished by the said Rev. Edward Purcell, or
by the said Most Rev. J. B. Purcell and not
repaid BY the said congregation. and
Whereas, There may be cases in which
the church property vested in the Most
Rev. J. B. Purcell, absolutely or in trust,
was acquired and has been improved In
part by moneys Of the congregation, and
by donations thereto, and in part by mon
eys furnished by the said Rev. Edward and
Most Rev. J. b. Purcell; therefore, be it
Resolved, That in such cases we will in
struct our counsel not to resist the appro-
priation Of such part OF said property to
tile debts of the said Rev. Edward or Of the
said Most Rev. J. B. Purcell, vs. under the
circumstances may, in the opinion of the
Court, be fair and equitable; and
"Whereas. The different congregations
are largely indebted to many persons for
money borrowed to purchase and improve
their property, and which has been b. used,
and for which the said persons have The
obligations of the congregation and prom
Use of security from their property; there
fore be it further
"Reso we'd, That where church property
is held by the Most Rev. J. B. Purcell
either absolutely or in trust which was &C.
quired by moneys furnished by such per-
sons, or BY the congregation and not by
the said Rev. Edward. or the said Most
Rev. J. B. Purcell. in such cas"s we will in.
struct our counsel to make all fair and legal
defenses to the recovery Of the said proper.
t. by the said J. b Mannix. assignee, and
to preserve TIE same for tho congregation
and the special creditors thereof
These resoIuti, ms are understood by us
to be consistent with the deed Of trust oi
the Most Reverend Archbishop Purcell t.,
John B. Mannix, dated March 11th, 1879,
and which is referred to in the proceedings
af .resaid taken by him in relation to such
property.
o.. y. G. ALBRrNcx,
| IF. X. DurroN,
II. Orro JAIR" -
The above was adopted unanimously by
the meeting.
1t was decided that each congregation
should be assessed according to tie value
OF its property for the payment of the costs
Of the suit. In order that Just assessment
may be made, = B, ard of Equalization,
composed of seven members, was appointed
10 make the assessment The following
constitute he Board: Father Albrinck. OF
Holy Trinity Church on West Fifth street
Father Austerman, of Auglaize County:
Father Mackey. of st. Patrick's Church on
Third street; Father Murray, OF Chilli.
cothe; Father Ulrich. OF st. Henry's Church
on Flint street, west of Freeman; Fatbe,
Hama, Of Dayton, and Father Cusick, of the
Church of the Atonement on West Third
street
After some further discussion it was de.
cided that each pastor should call meet.
ing OF his congregation for next Sunday