The morning times., 1895-11-14
CASE OF BISHOP BONACUM
DR.. Rocker Explains Mgr. satolli's
Position Regarding 1t.
He HIS Never Had the Matter Before
Him In an Official
Manner.

The case Of bishop Bonaculn. of Lincoln,
Neb., is attracting the attention of the
entire Catholic church in The United States.
The affairs of the church have been in a
particularly prosperous aud harmonious con
ditiou of late, and the trouble is deeply
deplored by all Catholics throughout the
country.
The secretary Of the pepsI delegation,
DIR. Rocker, who has been brought into such
unsought notoriety by the affair, said yes
terday that the troubles of the bishop Of
Lincoln and his priests are quite long
standing grievance.
They began at least two years ago"
said DR.. Rocker, and were in full progress
some months before my appointment to
this office. Consequently | know abso-
lutcly nothing Of the beginning OF the
difficulties or the ethical merits Of either
bishop ar priest.
MY connection with the affair Is simply
this: Some days ago n Correspo ndent OF
the Omaha Bee called To- see ME, and after
stating ut some length the ease Of Bishop
Bonacum and the opposing clement OF his
priesthood, said that IT was currently re-
ported in Lincoln that the bishop was about
to resort TO the civil courts in order 10 eject
Fathers Fitzgerald and Murphy from the
church property. Tie correspondent also
added that Bishop BJnaCdm had said that
in taking this step he had the support and
approval Of the apostolic delegate, and
he then asked the direct question whether
this statement was true or false.
u replied" continued DR.. Rocker, that
IL was neither true nor false, for the very
good reason that Bishop bonacum had not
consulted Mgr. Satoni on this matter, and
fr., IL inf. Th,s ri
he did it on his own responsibility, without
either the sanction or the diSapproval OF
the apostolic delegate
THE correspondent then visited 10 know
IL such course could Oe authoritatively ken
10y a bishop, aud replied IL could, and had
been pursued VIII en- priests were unruiy and
fnsuDordinate. This was all / said, and
is the cause of the many attacks ard unjust
statements that have lately appeared In the
press concerning my utterances-
About the late publications in which
Fathers Fitzgerald and Murphy accuse me
OF having forged the letters that came from
the delegation have nnth!ng whatever TO
say. The conditions surrounding the dele
cation are well known and open To- irSpcc-
ton, and my character has not suffered
from these attacks, Everything must be
conducted ON buslness-iike diplomatic pFn-
ciples. These troubles have not been con-
Quoted on this plan; therefore they cannot
be settled or even discussed until they come
to us in proper shape
DR.. Rocker said pleasantly that he scarce
ly thought this matter would Interest the
washipgtonpublic, aud that more had been
said Oh the subject than the occasion war
ranted.
"One thing recently appeared In Chi
cago paper that amused me immensely"
said Dr.. Rocker, laughing heartily.
"This article described the difficulties
of Mgr. Satolli's position; how lie was be
sieged by sight-seers aud curious public
in general, particularly newspaper report
crs, and it stated that he was saved much
annoyance by his secretary, who is n big,
brusque American OF the Yankee type,
who abhors newspapers and everything
connected with them, and he usually treats
the visitors So peremptorily that they did
NOT pay second visit"
This is rather an unjust criticism.
DR.. Rocker, as all Washington knows, is a
particularly polished, genial gentleman,
a scholar and church diplomat. He has
been n newspaper man himself, and still
writes for many popular sheets, and his
courtesy to the members of the press is
proyerbial.
Speaking of Mgr. Satolli's successor,
he said that almost daily contradictory
reports reached the legation, but nothing
was yet known officially.
Attention being called 10 the Roman dis
patch which appeared in last evenings
Times. and states that Mgr. Satoll will
stay here until the next consistory, prob
ably TO be held year and a half from this
present one, DR.. Rookenosaid that If this
proved true Mgr. Satoli would certainly
be very much grieved. lie is delighted
with America, but like the true child OF
sunny Italy, his heart yearns for his native
land and he is looking forward TO bis de-
parture. with almost boyish eagerness.
Mgr. Satoili's winter trips in cluded a visit
to New Orleans to attend the Mardi Gras
festivities, and to preside at the winter ses-
sIons of the Catholic schools. He will GER
tainly keep this appointment if he remains
in this country until February.