The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1889-09-24
THB, PENI7ENT PRIEST.
Bishop Wigger Tells the
Story of Father But
1er's Return to
the Fold.
THE MARRIAGE NOT ANNULLED.
There Was None, in the Church
View; Nor Is the Church to
Make Provision for Theresa
Brady.


moning the seminarians to night prayers
when / called there last evening to see
the Right Rev. Bishop Wigger and hear
his version of the story of Rev. Father
Buffers return to the fold.
was ushered into the parlor by
black-robed seminarian, and after waiting
for short time the Bishop entered the
room.
eyes" he said, after had introduced
myself, .Father Butler has repented OF
the sacrilege he committed by breaking
his vows and living in sin with Theresa
Brady"
ssWas the letter read from the altar last
Sunday the first intimation you had of
Father Buffers intention to change his
nfe?" asked.
SEEKING FORGIVENESS.
NO." replied the Bishop, "he had
called on me three or four times before
that and expressed himself willing to
submit to any punishment | should care
to infiict upon him. From the time he
began his evil life, some five years ago,
until he finally gave it up he knew per-
fectly well in what state his soul was.
Miss Brady's conscience was also uneasy
Father Buffers conduct grieved me and
his brother priests extremely, and we did
all in our power to bring him to a sense
of his evil conduct.
II have, myself, repeatedly caused word
to be brought to him that whenever he
should wish to come back to the Church, /
would be willing to receive him. The
Church never forgetS her erring chill
dren," continued the Bishop in tones of
deep feeling, "but does all in her power
to relieve them from their sinful courses:
"The action was mutual on the part OF
Father Butler and Miss Brady. He is
hxy iQ
gent.
81 am sure that he would have no trou-
BILE in obtaining work. They had money
enough to support themselves comforta-
bly,, so no worldly motive could have
possibly caused them to separate. ltwas
simply bitter remorse of conscience"
THERE WAS NO MARRIAGE.
did the Church annul theEmarriages"
asked.
'sThe Church never recognized the
marriage Father Butler had made
solemn vow of chastity, and his marriage
was not valid, or in fact there was no
marriage. As there YVES no marriage 1t
could not be annulled."
'sWill any provision be made for Miss
Brady's support, now that the man who
in the eyes Of the law, if not in those Of
the Church, is her husband has aban-
doned her, was my next question.
MISS BRADY NEEDS No AID.
"No,n said the Bishop. When the
pair separated it was as said before by
mutual consent, and she herself is in no
need of outside aid. The letter which
Father Butler wrote me / ordered read
by the Rev. Fathers Hanley and Seney,
of Jersey City, and also had it printed in
the JERSEY City NEWS, that the repara
tion might be as widely circulated as the
scandal had BEEN"
''Will you tell me where Father Butler
has gone" asked.
Nrc coiA fba n
that. He has gone to monastery to do
penance, but where, / do not care to say"
If Father Butler is in the United States
the monasteries to which Bishop Wigger
could have sent him are those of either
the Passionists in Baltimore, Dunkirk,
Pittsburg, West Hoboken and Cincinnati,
of the Trapists, in Kentucky, or OF the
Franciscans or Benedictines
When DR.. Curran was disciplined by
Archbishop Corrigan, of New York, for
his bold stand in favor of DIR. McGlynn,
he was ordered for week to the Passion
list Monastery, West Hoboken, to do PEN
ance.
1t is hardly probable, however, that
Father Butler would be left either in the
United States or Canada. He has proba-
bly, been sent to some monastery in Italy,
where he will expiate his sacrilege.
ABSOLUTIoN GIVEN.
Both Father Butler and Miss Brady
have made their confessions and have
thus been absolved from the sentence of
accommodation which their conduct
incurred. Father Butler is of course
''once a priest always q priest" and
when mis- superiors have satisfied them
selves that his repentance ia sincere he
NAV be allowed to say mass, but IL is ex-
treinely doubtful if he will ever be
granted any faculties" as the permits
sion which authorizes a priest to hear
confessions is termed.
Great hearted Father Corrigan, of
Hoboken, had probably more than anyone
else to do with causing Father Butler to
repent.
FATHER CoRRIGAN's INFLUENCE.
He had always taken all interest in the
bright young priest, and when he went
wrong it panied him deeply. Father
Corrigan visited Father Butler several
times and begged him to change his life,
and for long time his efforts were un-
availing. Although discouraged he did
not entirely lose hope, and said:-
''If you ever return to God and need q
friend come to me-"
Father Butler remembered his words,
and when his hour of trial came Father
Corrigan's house sheltered him.
"Father Butler and Miss Brady" said
Bishop Wigger. "are certainly sincere. 1t
is over month since they separated, and
during that time they have given every
sign of their sincere determination to do
all in their power to repair the scandal
they have given Gods church and Gods
people,"
GLYNN-DONOVAN.