The state herald., 1894-11-16
BISHOP MATZ RESIGNS
SENDS a LETTER TO THE POPE.
Tho Step Not Surprise to Colorado Cath
oiics.-Archbishop Chappsile Stopped to
BOO Bishop Mats ON His Way Home
From . Visit to Mgr. BatollL

Denver, Nov. 0.-The papers this
morning announce tho resignation Of
Bishop Matz, the head Of the Catholic
church In this diocese. The Republican
states that the resignation Of Bishop
Matz was not unexpected In Catholic
circles. This was especially SO In Den
yer, where 1t was nm open secret that
considerable dissatisfaction existed
during the past two years. The cause
of the dissatisfaction was not made
very plain, but some leading Catholics
did not hesitate to say that the fnan-
cial condition of the diocese was not
very stable and that 1t needed a better
flnancicr to readjust 1t than Bishop
Matz Is reputed to be.
A few months since, when there were
legal complications between Bishop
Matz and Father Malone of st. Joseph's
parish, relative to the position Of the
parish In regard to pccuniary standing,
Archbishop Chappelle of Santa Fe
came to Denver and spent several days
investigating the accounts of st. JOS
eph's parish. The result OF that invest
igation was that Father Malone was
completely eXOncrated from any sus-
picion OF having a shortage in the ac-
counts OF the parish. 1t was then
stated that Archbishop Chappelle had
gone further than the immediate OBJ
ject Of his visit, and had probed Into
tho diocesan accounts and made par
tcular examination OF THO condition OF
the cathedral property.
The resignation of bishop Of the
Catholic church Is n very unusual &C.
currencc. 1t is never done except on
grounds of pressing necessity such as
ill-health, physically or mentally, AMI
tho procedure In case such as Bishop
MATHS Is consequently not very clear
ly defined. When vacancy is declar-
ed in Catholic episcopal see meeting
of what Is known as the diocesan coun-
ell Is held.
This council is composed of clergy.
men who act as an advisory board to
tho bishop. but whose powers are in
no sense mandatory or directory. They
suggest names FOR the vacancy in the
order of dignus, dignior and dignissi-
mus, and those names are first submit
ted to the bishops of the province, then
sent to Rome where action is taken up
on them by the College of Cardinals.
and this action Is ratified by the pope
The diocesan council In Colorado is
composed of four members, Father
Robinson of the Annunciation parish,
who IL also vicar general OF the do
cese; Father Hewlett and Phillips of
the cathedral and Father Guida, s. ] &.
OF the Twenty-cighth street church. The
bishops of the province are Archbishop
Chappelle of Santa Fe and Bishop
Bourgadc of Arizona. Their joint rec
concentration of a nominee for the va
cant bishopric has great weight and IN
nearly all cases Is honored at the pro-
paganfia.
Archbishop Chappcllc of Santa Fc
passed through Denver on his way
from Washington last Monday. He
stayed with Bishop Matz on Monday
night, and 1t Is thought that his visit
had much to do with the resignation of
the bishop. 1t is said that his excursion
to Washington was made for the pur-
pose OF comforting with his brother
archibishops on the question OF the
financial standing OF the Colorado do.
cesc. and that when he broke his jour
ney at Denver It WAS with the especial
object OF communicating to Bishop
Matz the result OF the deliberations of
the archlcpiscopal council at Washing.
ton. What that result was Will not b.
made public. but there Is a strong I'm
preston In Catholic circles that the
resignation OF the bishop is more or
less connected with the archbishop's
visit.
Bishop Matz Is n native OF the prov
incc OF Alsace. Germany. At 20 years
of age he went TO st. Mary's college.
Cincinnati. where he was ordained a
priest. His frs; mission was George.
town. where he remained several years.
He then came TO st. AIMS parish In
East Denver. and when there was
chosen coadJutor bishop by the late
Bishop Mnchebeuf. When Bishop Mae
hebcnf died. Bishop Matz was consc-
Grated bishop OF the diocese.