The Opelousas courier., 1884-03-15
Appeal to Catholics.

held on the 25th of january.
the following appeal to the cler-
gy and faithful of the Catholic
Church of the United States,
prepared by the testamentary
executors of the late lamented
Archbishop Perche, was in
dorsed and approved and its
publication In the newspapers
of the United States authorized.
In accordance with the request
Of tbs signers, we take pleasure
in giving space to the appeal
aud commencing it to the fa-
vorable attention and consider
alton of orr readers, a large
proportion of whom are follow
ers of the Catholic faith :
The death of his Grace Mon
seigneur Napoleon Joseph
Perche has left this Diocese ia
a grave embarrassment. By
his last will our venerable Arch
bishop has constituted the cor
poration of the Roman Catho-
lie Church of this Diocese his
universal legatee. The corpo-
ration desires to accept his be-
quest Internationally. But it
must at the same time open IFS
eyes to the consequences OF its
acceptance. Almost all the inn
movable property of the Catho-
lie Church in Louisiana stood in
the name of the late Archbish-
op. An. acceptance of the uni
yersal INQUEST made by him
would therefore bind the corpo-
!, ration tt pay all the debts con-
tracted by him, whether at the
head of the Church and Of the
corporation, or as an Individual,
during the course Of his Epis-
copal administration. Now,
these debts amount, at this day.
to 500, 900; one-llalf of this
enormous sum being due II
Europe, and one-half in this
country. Many items, it is true.
are individual to our late Arch
!, bishop; but no discrimination
should be made between these
and the ether items Of indebted
ness. They were only the re
suit of excessive love, OF I'M
bounded charity giving more
| than it had. The corporation
: of this Diocese is willing ane
d DESTROYS to honor the entire
= debt. without distinction. Nei
: therrepudiation nor bankruptcy
are consistent with the princl
Dles 81 with the policy OF tn
O Catholic Church. But the cor
poratien cannot, alone, bear thI
s. weighty burden; it cannot, witt
s-its sole resources, extinguIsI
h the debt. For that work Whie.
10 deeply concerns the honor g
II the Church and the good OF &c
20 ligion, it needs the assistanc
ID Of the clergy and faithful q tn
ii State. and of tbs entire Union
Already much has been accom-
pIished. Four years ago vine
IL Monseignenr E. x. Leray, &C
Ill adiator aud Administrator, too
ae charge Of the temporalitles 9
the Diocese, the debt was G
le larger than it is to-day. =
H liz nntiring efforts, as well 9
,e by the voluntary reduction I
oflinterest made blythe EIlropea
II bondholders, and the spollf;
fe Moons donations Of 4 few Call
ee olics on-various occasions, IL
rs daht has been reduced by mo
s. than $4,000. Even this I
ck ductioll, however, still leav'
the Diocese iii debt at the enc
ail nous figure above stated 8
an that the generous assistance
= the clergy and faithful throug
ar ont. the United States IS abs.
X lufely necessary to relieve q
Il Diocese from it's painful emba
ii. easements. Let all, therefor
I'd among priests or people, let !
Who have al heart the honor
III our Church and its contInu'
be growth and development IN 6
4 country, respond 10 this apps
NJ Let each one give according
,o- Ills means the mite Of the po
IL will BE received with as mu
~ gratitude as the gift Of the rIe
onlfn making this appeal, Il
ia. nroper to state that no 9th
g. subscription than the one g
IN opened will be approved pa :
lis Diocese. AlIcontribntlons 10
ish ia RENTED III cash, OF
I'LL, check, 81 by post Office mon
Sc, order. They must be address
as to His Grace Francis g. Lerl
Archbishop, Or John Oonnel
az fiscal agent Ut the Archbislls
tic. New Orleans, La, OF &c
s yrg ~ o. I-~1 aFfnpnnNE