The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-10-05
BISHOP KEANE DEP0SED
NO LONGER RECTOR OF THE CATHO-
LIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA.

Retired by Decree of the Sovereign Pontiff
The Reason is That the Office Should
Not be Held in Perpetuity-Bishop Keane
Welcomes the Release-Declines Honors
the Pope Would Confer Upon Him.
Washington, Oct. 4-The fact was
made public to-day that Bishop John j.
Keane, rector of the Catholic univer-
sity of America, located in this city, has
resigned, at the request of Pope Leo
XIII. The news was entirely unexpect-
ed and caused much comment In Cath
olic circles.
Bishop Keane this afternoon gave out
the following:
Since my Withdrawal from the rector
ship of the Catholic university of Amer
lea will probably be regarded by a con-
siderable portion of the American pub
lie as matter of some interest to
them, and since unauthorized state
ments are apt to be misleading ! deem
it my duty to state briefly and clearly
the facts of the case. In September
received through His Eminence, Car
dinal Gibbons, a letter from our Holy
Father Leo XIII of which the following
Is translation:
ITO our Honorable Brother, John Jo-
seph Keane, Bishop of Ajasso:
'Venerale brother: Health and apos-
tolic benediction. 1t Is customary that
they who are appointed to preside over
Catholic universities should not hold Of
flee In perpetuity. This custom has
grown up through wise reasons, and
the Roman pontiffs have ever been
careful that 1t should be adhered to-
Since, therefore, venerable brother, you
have now presided for several years
over the university at Washington, in
the first establishment, and subsequent
ly the development of which you have
shown laudable zeal and diligence 1t
has seemed best that the above men
toned custom should not be departed
from and that another. whose name is
to be proposed to us by the bishops,
should be appointed to succeed you in
this honorable position. In order, how
ever, that, in your resigning this office
due regard may be had to your person
and your dignity, we have determined
to elevate you to the rank of arch
bishop.
Being solicitous for your future well
fare, we leave it to your own free choice
either to remain in your own country,
If you prefer it, or to come to Rome. If
you choose the former we will destine
fS1> roh y. ~,
of the bishops of the United States. If
you prefer the latter we shall welcome
you most lovingly, and will place you
among the consultors of the congrega-
tion of studies and the congregation of
the propaganda, in both of which you
could do much for the interest of reli-
gion in the United States In this lat
ter case we would also assign you a
suitable revenue for your honorable
maintenance.
Confidently trusting, venerable
brother, that you will accept this, our
administrative act, with hearty good
WILL we most lovingly bestow upon you
the apostolic benediction as a pledge of
our paternal affection.
"Given at Rome, from, st. Peters,
this 18th day Of September, 1896, in the
nineteenth year of our pontificale.
(Signed) LEO XIII, Pope"
The next day l mailed to the holy
father reply, of which the following
is a translation:
Most Holy Father-His Eminence,
Cardinal Gibbons, has handed me the
letter in which your holiness has made
x1 i,ty +i,,,,
Of this university now comes to an end
and that another rector is to be ap-
pointed.
without a moment of hesitation I
accept the will of your holiness In the
matter as manifestation Of the prov
idence of God, and from this instant
resign into the hands of his eminence,
the chancellor, the office of rector with
all rights thereto attaching.
Thanking your holiness for the free
dom of choice granted me, choose to
remain in my own country, and, more
over, without any official position what
soever, in tranquility and peace.
"Your holiness most humble servant
in Christ (Signed)
JOHN J. KEANE,
Bishop Of A1asso."
'I welcome my release from the office
of rector of the university with pro-
found gratitude both to divine Provi-
dence and to the pope. While I always
regarded its duties as a labor of love,
they had grown to be far beyond my
strength and ability, and the deliver
ance from the burden is a response to
many PRAYERS was too loyal a SOL
dier to ask to be relieved from my post,
no matter what the difficulties, but
feeling that nine years of strain and
solicitude In the work had brought me
close to the end of my brain and nerve
power, 1 was fully ready to welcome
what has been done. I shall now enjoy
some months of greatly needed rest on
the Pacific coast, leaving all plans for
the future to a later date.
"Of course, no one needs to be as
sured that the action of the Holy
Father is prompted not only by per-
sonal kindness toward myself, but also
by earnest solicitude for the best inter-
ests of the university. He believes in
rotation in office, as all sensible men
must. He knows the evils of allowing
any official. and especially the head of
q university to fossilize at his post and
in this all must acknowledge his wis
dom. His enlightened prudence, and
that of the trustees who have to pre-
sent the nominations viii be sure to
select a rector in every way fitted to
guide the work to fuller and fuller sue
cess From the peaceful retirement