The Portland daily press., 1894-03-24
APRlEsT LEAVES THE FAITH.
Father Lambert withdraws from the
Roman Catholic Church
New York Sun. ]

New York SUM-
The Rev. Father A. Lambert, a priest
we'll known to the Catholics OF this
country, has withdrawn from the Catho-
lie Church. He has sent his letter of
resignation from the Redemptorist
order to the Rev. Father Raus, the
Superior of the order at Rome, and
copy of the document to the Father in
charge of the American branch of the
order at Saratoga. The letter is as fol-
lows:
New York, March 81, 1894.
Very Rev. Father Raus, C.S. S. K.
Reverend Sir: l deem it my duty to
inform you that from today my canoni,
cal standing being perfectly regular and
unquestjoned, as you well know, freely
and deliberately withdraw from the
priesthood and communion of the no
man Catholic church. The decision
mental struggle and much thought and
it is not without sorrow / have come to
it, for it is always hard to sever the re-
la5ions of twenty-one years. But
could not forever resist the voice OF my
conscience. l had to obey it at last and
the logical consequence of that obedl-
ence is the :sstep | now take. knowing
and heard what I heard in the Roman
Catholic Church, cannot any longer
force my mind into submission to the
Vatican, nor can l longer admit the
claim of the Roman Catholic Church
and clergy to rule not .only. in religious
questions, but also in purely scientific.
social and even political matters.
The intolerance and dupliclty which.
almost from the day of my ordination to
the priesthood, / found and met in the
Roman Catholic Church have become
utterly unbearable to me. Having SO
come to the conclusion that there is only
one High Priest-the Goldman, Jesus
Christ-and one sacrifice not to be re-
peated, and, lin consequence. doubling
my osition'as priest, | .could.pot act
otherwise than I do now. Had re-
manned any longer in the Roman Catho-
lie Church after coming to this decision
/ would have debased my manhood, and
that I could not do and with Gods
help. never will do.
and renouncing the priesthood, l do not
forget and never will forget, to cherish
the memory of the many good and dear
friends whom I must leave to travel
their own path. We are separated.
shall not interfere with them and hope
they will not interfere with me. What
/ shall do IS my own personal affair.
We live in free country.
Meantime l give thanks to God that
Christian hands have been extended to
me in welcome, and that Christian in
fiuences have been cast around me to
help me in the way of the Lord. Rome
may now condemn me, hut intrust
my cause TO the Almighty and to His
Son Jesus Christ. sknow now clearly
that those who believe in Christ as their
Saviour shall be saved. / believe in
Him, resign myself into His loving
care, and feel sure He will not forsake
me. A.LAMBERT.
Father Lamb has been in Brooklyn
for the past two weeks with Father
Wissel He is now at Christ Mission,
142 West Twenty-frst street. with Father
O'Connor, former Catholic. and it is
from this house that he sent his sudden
note of resignation.
Father Lam bert was born in Belgium
A years ago, and has been in this coun-
try for five years. He was ordained to
the priesthood when very young, and
Then did missionary work in the West
Indies.
1t was not more than week ago that
Father Lam bert informed Father O'Con-
nor of his intention to desert the Catho-
tic Church. He said he intended to de-
part suddenly, and he merely sent
telegram to Father Wissel in Brooklyn
saying he would never return. Father
Lam bert has as yet made no plans for
the..future,.. but he expects to become
an evangelist.