The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-07-13
a4H
FATHER KILLEEN OUT
The Rev. Isaac P. Whe1an
0fficiates at st. Mary's
Bayonne.
CHARGES AGAINST THE PRIEST
Accused of Giving Valuable Church
Property to His House,
keeper.

Rev. Isaac P. Whelan. pastor Of ST.
Mary's Church, Paterson, has been sent
to Bergen Point to ST. Mary's Church
10 take the place made vacant by the de-
| position Of the aged rector, Rev. Thomas
! killeen. He formally took charge of the
parish yesterday. Father Whelan does
not go to Bergen Point temporarily, but
as 4permanen pastor. He preached yes
terday. and read to the congregation the
letter Of the Bishop appointing him as the
regular pastor. There is intense feeling
IN Bergen Point over Father killeen's
removal, but no antagonism is felt toward
his successor, who has always been on
friendly. terms with the deposed priest.
II may be for this reason, as much as any
other, that Bishop Wigger selected Father
Whelan for the place.
Rev. Father Whelan is one of the most
eloquent young preachers in the Diocese
of Newark. He is forty-three years old, a
native of Elizabeth, and has been assist
ant priest in churches at New Bruins
wick. Morristown and Elizabsthport. From
the latter place he went to Paterson TO
take charge of ST. Mary's. He is the
eldest son of the late Captain John H.
Whelan, an eloquent Irishman, who served
in the Civil War, the New Jersey Legis-
lature and as Street COMMISSIONS of
Elizabeth.
Under the charges recently preferred
against him by some of his Practitioners,
Father Thomas M. Killeen. rector of st.
Mary's Star of Sea Roman Catholic
Church, was suspended from the rectorate
and removed from the parish on Saturday
by Bishop Wigger, Of the Diocese of New
ark.
Although this result of the incessapt-
warfare waged against Father killeen
for the last ten days by his d~iSgruntled
parishfoners have been anticipated by them
all this week, the fact was NOT known
Saturday night TO more than a score OF
persons in Bayonne.. Those. who were
reticent that few facts could be obtained
Persistent inquiry disclosed the informal
tion that early in the afternoon Father
n the place 81 Father Wallace. who
sailed Saturday for Europe, arrived in
Bayonne from the epascopal seat at South
Orange and FASTENED to ST. Mays rec
tory. Following the customary clerical
greeting, Acting Chancellor Stafford, who
Is said to have been previously unac-
the latter the documents of suspension
sfserward Father KIlleen privately left
the rectory- He is said to have boarded
a trolley car bound for Jersey City.
While his destination is not known for
a certainty. 1t is understood that he an
Bishop at Seton Hall College. Acting
Chancellor Stafford remained at the rec
tory to consult with Father William ].
Richmond eiurate cf St; Mary.s CHURCH.
adversaries expect that he will make a
strong fight. 1t is understood that he has
three weeks time In which to prepare
his defense. Il is also understood that
he will be defended at the trial by DR..
Burtsell. 1t is understood that Bishop
Wigger has designated Father Wheian Of
Passaie TO assume charge of the parish.
Father Richmond. the senior curate, has
not been ordained a sufficient time TO
allow of his appointment as rector.
There were ten charges against Father
Killeen. the mos, serious one being that
he had transferred parish property valued
at 5000 70 his housekeeper, Winifred
Ford. The priest was also accused of
being seen at summer resorts with his
~housekeeper, of forcing the curate to eat
piazza with her in public view. and of
taking her back as his housekeeper after
she had been ordered away by the Bishop.
Father Killeen is an old man; who has
a trouble with his congregation before.
He wears a heavy beard, by special dis
pensation, because of an affliction of the
f5raof