The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-04-11
The TreaoY Trouble.

On their knees, invoking his blessing,
several hundred members of st. Joseph's
Catholic Church, at Swedesboro, welcom-
ed Bishop O'Farrell on Sunday. The
throng gathered around the church long
before the. hour for mass and patiently
awaited his coming. With Vicar General
McFaul, of Trenton Dean Fitzsimmons,
of Camden, and Father Leahy, who has
borne the brunt of the battle for the
church 80 far, by his side, the Bishop en-
/ tered the church yard. A long avenue of
kneelng faithful led the way to the
church door. The Bishop extended his
right hand to each, and everyone kissed
the ring.
Father Leahy celebrated mass, as usual.
The little church was crowded to its ut
most, and many outsiders were kept away
by the report circulated that none but
members of the church were wanted upon
this occasion. After mass had been said,
Bishop O'Farrell read the gospel of the
day from the book of John. He told the
story of the Lords second meeting with
His disciples after the cruciixion. and in
emphasizing the absence of Judas upon
that occasion, said that Judas was type
of recreant priests of all ages. He re-
viewed the present case from its begin
ming; told of Father Patrick Treacy's errat-
ic actions; of his very poor health; of his
threats to shoot the Bishop; OF his having
pointed pistol at the head of Vicar Cen
eral McFaul, and many similar actions !;
explained the removal of Father Tleacy
to an asylum. and touched upon the many
familiar points of the case, adding that if
the deposed priests visited the Apostolic
Delegate and asked pardon for their per-
sistent disobedience, there is no doubt
that they would be forgiven, and perhaps
provided for in some other diocese. The
decision of the Apostolic Delegate, in the
first instance, was, he said, that Rev. Pat
rick A. Treacy should be provided for by
the Bishop until the restoration of his
health. This was confirming an agree
ment which the Bishop had already made
with the sick priest.
In the case of Rev. William P. Treacy
the Bishop said that the decision was that
he should perform certain penitential ex-
ercises during period of ten days, and
begin again his three years of probation
in the diocese. These decisions the
Treacy brothers refused to accept, and
the further punishments with which they
have been visited has been due to their
continued obstinacy.
Monsignor Satolli wrote him, saying
that the alleged appeal of the Treacys to
the Holy Father is a mere pretense, and
cannot have the slightest effect according
to the tenor of the Delegates faculties.
After morning mass Vicar General Nc
Faul stated that there was no room for
doubt in the case of Father Patrick
Treacy that he was very sick man, his
malady uniting him for his priestly
duties. In view of this Bishop OFarrell
arranged to give Treacy $500 a year as
long as he was without a parish. With
20 ,roo,,axr M o0r,1I coo6 boo1fh ord root
where he would. Instead of using the
money as suggested the Vicar General
said Father Treacy spent it in attorneys
fees to figh the Catholic Church.
Father William Treacy, in giving his
version of the case, said that the $500 was
promised his brother along with parish
at the expiration of two months, and he
produced letter from Bishop O'Farrell,
dated January 81, 1898, naming the con-
dltions for the provision. The letter. how
ever says "few months, instead of two
months" He says that this $500 was to
come from an extra assessment to be lev
led by the Bishop upon the congregation
at Burlington, and that it might never
have been paid, although $3.50 was paid.
He insists that it was but trick to get
his brother out of the church without
trouble. He says that the parish was
promised his brother by Bishop OFarrell
through an agreement with Mgr. Satolli,
who, on February Z, 1898, some two
weeks after making the promise, wrote
Father Treacy saying that he had asked
Bishop O'Farrell to consent to the agree
ment, which, up to that time the Treacy
brothers had regarded as sacred as if it
had come from the pope himself.
Father Treacy said mass as usual in the
home of Edward Monaghan, but had a
very small congregation. He has chal-
lenged Bishop O'Farrell to meet him in a
public discussion of the case and names
the Academy of Music, Philadelphia, or
Cooper Union, New York, as places suited
to the circumstances. He will, with his
brother, press suits for monetary damages
against Bishop OFarrell.