The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-05-14

and all their. usual accomplishments for al,
years ruled this rural parish. During tba,
time subsequent legal examinations disclosoS
enty heads OF families (oniy three of WHOM
were above the condition Of day laborcrsj tho
sum Of $4,000. and had also encumborcd Tho
church property with two mortgages amount
ing TO 50, 800. When inquiry was made in re-
gard to 1t he assured the Bishop that the parish
still owed him over 1000 on account OF salary
and he demanded Immediate payment, T6y;
whole matter is now in the courts Of law with.
out the slightest, prospect of the congregation
saving single dollar of their church property
All must be sold by order Of tho Court not tx,
ceptlng even the graves Of their dead. Tho
to let all go and begin again than attempt 10
redeem the present property.
Again. l might cal, your attention to your own
parish church. which l believe Is among tha
wealthicst in, the state. and whore the laity
poured into the hands Of the priest WHOM al
Of no financial ability uncounted thousands ~
dollars for the purpose of building a now
church: Whom You supposed your church was
ment nearly 100000 Of debt hanging over ia
property your. school house mortgagod and tho
teachers unpaid. shell of church with Iu lIro
ing walls, and the congregation Dispersed
II may be said that these are individual casos
snd Of n2 ibs ab let us ooE then
where there was . Bishop Of the most e S,ro.
plary piety and devotion. and who was careful
to train his priests to walk IN his own footstons
Their very piety seems to have been the unin.
territorial snare to impoverish the people. This
molly biShop ana his good priests received on
money SO borrowed to build churches. school
houses. seminarles. and other works of charity.
Bishop Of any Intentional crime "k c ' took Fq tba
the money ofthe poor laboring men and serving
Tomen. intending TO return It with lawful use.
q fund.- secure "a that of heaven. TO support the
inflrmities OF their old age. But all has been
trial shall decide that the church rropeTt w ia IL
holden. then nearly all the churches in tho
State must be sold to pay the debts II not then
then the poor creditors must suffer all the
T. cannot, be supposed that such a state Of
laity had any voice or control in tho manage
ment OF their own, property.
think ean understand in some measure the
York would regard the idea Of haviHg his grand
new cathedral placed IN the hands OF Board Of
ity. But he could obtain great comfort by
driving down Broadway and looking at the far
more valuable ,1 hTrSp9rty in the bands Of the
but ono clerical member and he ia elected by
the lay members of the Board For some three
hundred, years this vast property has been
a single dollar of 1t being wasted i? Tho gem
eral feeling among, Catholics would be that the
in temporal affairs than is found in Protestant
bodies. Il five should be thought the proper
number OF trustees t then the Bshon and The
three aymen elected by the body OF the people.
In no event should the spiritual authority be
encroached upon or in any way embarrassed.
There are many other considerations which
might be urged why some such change in the
Chief among Them perhaps, is the effect the
present law Is calculated to produce in the life
and character Of the priesthood. But | have
already extended my letter beyond intended
limits. and must leave any further remarks to
a future occasion.
With sentiments OF regard / have the honor
to be. CATuoIICUs.
New YORK. April 80. 1882.