Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-10-05
RETIRED AS HEAD OF THE CATH
OLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA.
POPE ASKS HIS RESIGNATION.
OFFERS TO ELEVATE HIM TO THE
OFFICE OF ARCHBISHOP.
PreIate Keane Replies, Refusing the
PrOmOtiOn-Transla Of the
Correspondence Between
Pope and Bishop-Was
Meant in Kindness.


wasbinrton saws that word comes there
from Baltimore that the Right Rev. John
+ Keane, rector of the Catholic Univer-
sity of America. has received letter from
the pope requesting his resignation as head
of the institution. 1t is said Cardinal CID
hons received the letter and that Bishop
Keane went to Baltimore to receive 1T.
The letter is said to be kindly and the
resignation asked on the ground that three
years is to be the limit OF the term OF
rector. The moving cause, however. the
dispatch says, is being surmsed without
result. 1t is said that Bishop keane had
become persona non grata to Carainal sa-
TOLL. Bishops Spalding. Of Peoria, and
Horstmann, OF Cleveland, are mentioned as
probable successors.
Bishop Keane makes the following state
ment concerning his withdrawal from the
head of the university: "Since my with
drawal from the rectorship of the Catholic
University of America will probably be re-
garded by a considerable portion of the
American public as matter of interest to
them, and since unauthorized statements
are apt to be misleading, 1 deem it my
duty to state briefly and clearly the facts
of the case.
"On September IS received through his
eminence. Cardinal Gibbons. letter from
our holy father, Leo Kill, of which the
following is translation: To Our Vener-
able Brother. John Joseph Keane. Bishop
of Ajasso-Ventable brother, health and
apostolic benediction. 1t is customary
that they who are appointed to preside
over Catholic universities should not hold
the Office in perpetuity. This custom has
grcwn up through wise reasons and the
Roman pontiffs have ever been careful
that it should be adhered to- Since, there
fore. venerable brother. you have now
presided for several years over the uni
versity at Washington. in the first estab.
which you have shown luadable zeal and
diligence. it has seemed best that the
above mentioned custom should not be de-
parted from, and that another, whose
bishops, should be appointed to succeed
you in this honorable position. In order.
heweyer, that. in your rssigning this Of
son and dignity, we have determined to
elevate You to the rank of archbishop.
Being solicitous for your future welfare.
we leave it to your own free choice either
prefer fe It. to o. come to or Rome. II YOU choose
the former. we will destine for you some
of the United States. If you prefer the
latter. We shall welcome you most low
ingly. and will place you among the con-
the congregation of the propaganda. in
both of which you could do much for the
interests of religion in the United States.
In this latter case. we would also assign
you a suitable revenue for your honora ole
maintenance.
Confidently trusting, venerable brother,
tive act. with hearty good will, we most
lovingly bestow upon you the apostolic
benediction, as a pledge Of our paternal
affestion:
day of September, 1886 IN the nineteenth
year of our pontificate.
"The next day. mailed to the holy
father reply, of which the following is a
translation: The Catholic University OF
America, Washington. Sept o. 1895. Most
Holy Father:-Cardinal Gibbons yester>
day handed me the letter in which your
holiness has made known to me that my
administration of this university now
comes to an end and that another rector
is to be appointed.
Without moment of hesitation. ac-
cept the will Of your holiness in the matter
as a manifestation of the providence of
God. and from this instant resign into the
office of rector, with all rights thereto at
taching. Thanking your holiness for the
freedom OF choice granted me, choose to
iabnt rsmain in my on, SWn country and
Your holiness most humble son in
Christ. JOHN ]. KEANE.
..srnn,ouer,,ro a.. ,.ttGsl Bishop @ OF A5asso'.
says: 4 welcome my release from the
office of rector of the university with pro-
found gratitude both to Divine Providence
and to the pope. While I always regarded
its duties as labor of love, they had
grown to be far beyond my strength and
abilities, and the deliverance from the bur-
den Is response to many prayers I
was too loyal a soldier to ask to be re-
lieved from my post, no matter what its
difficulties, but feeling my nine years of
strain and solicitude In the work had
brought me close to the end of my brain
and nerve powers, I was fully ready to
welcome what has been done. / shall now
enjoy some months of greatly needed rest
on the Pacific coast, leaving all plans for
the future to later date.
"'Of course. no one needs to be assured
that the action of the holy father is
prompted not only by personal kindness
toward myself. but also by earnest solici-
tude for the best interests OF the uni
versity. He believes in rotation in Of
fice," as all sensible men must. He knows
the evils of allowing any official, and es-
pecially the head of a university, to fos-
silize at his post and in this all must ac-
knowledge his wisdom. His enlightened
prudence, and that Of the trustees who
have to present the nominations. will be
sure to select a rector in every way fitted
to guide the work to fuller and fuller sue
cess. From the peaceful retirement which
l trust l have somewhat earned, shall
watch its progress with unabated interest.
And l appeal to all whom my efforts in
behalf of the university have ever reached.
to redouble their interest, their zeal, their
generosity, In this new chapter of the uni
versty's existence, and to make 1t what
mn ha he uIo of