Morning journal and courier., 1881-09-12
Monday Morning, Sep. 12, 1881.
AN IMPORrANT CHuRCH sIIIT.

Reference has been made in these columns to the controversy which has arisen between Bishop Loughlin of Brooklyn and his CO., trustees of the Roman Catholic church of St. Anthony, on the one side, and certain of the practitioners of the church society on the other, as to the management of the church funds and property. The case has been ta- ken into the courts by the parishioners and it's progress will be watched with much inter est, for very important principle is at stake in it.
 The parishioners petition is against John Loughlin, Bishop of the diocese; William diocese, and M- J. Murphy, priest of the parish, as trustees. They allege in the peti- tion that the church was incorporated in the year 1865. They say that for several years past they have been members of St. Antho- ny's church, and have contributed and paid large sums of money during that time at the request and solicitation of the trustees named, and for the use and benefit of the church. Some of this money has been used and expended for the current expenses of the church, the salary and support of its pastor,
 
 the building debt, and in other ways, accord ing to the usual methods. The Board of Trustees consists, ordinarily, in such bodies of the Bishop, the Vicar General, the pastor, and two lay members of the congregation. The three trustees named in this proceeding have been trustees for several years past, but there are no lay members on the board with them. Under the statutes it is made the duty of such trustees to exhibit, under oath, to the Supreme Court, at least once in three years, an inventory of the estate belong ing to the church, both real and person al, and the amount of the annual income of the church, and to file the same in the office of the county clerk These trustees, the petitioners say, have never filed such a report. At meeting of about 1000 of the parishioners of the church the persons who make this petition were appointed to pro- cure from the trustees a statement or report the church property and funds, | but such statement has been refused them 1 They therefore charge that there have been 1 gross irregularities in the manner of keeping and auditing the financial accounts of the | church, that it's funds and property have been disposed of, and that about $174,- I 900 of the church moneys are now missing and l unaccounted for, and have been diverted | from the treasury to the great wrong and | loss and detriment of the church corpora ton. They therefore asked the court to is sue an order requiring and directing the | trustees to make and file an in nventory forth l with
 The judge before whom the petition was brought granted an order requiring the | trustees within twenty days to make and file | in the county clerks office the inventory re- | quired by law. The order has been served l on the trustees and it is thought they will | contest the matter. It is stated that threats | have been made to excommunicate the per sons who are leading the movement, but it | may be doubted whether such an .unwise step ! will be taken. The parishioners are merely | asking for their rights in the matter, and If l they ''stick" they will doubtless get them, and give useful lesson to some of the Ro- | man Catholic priests and prelates in this free country.