Evening journal., 1897-10-22
LEFT TO THE POPE.
Schroeder Case to Be Carried
TO the Vatican.
DECISION OF UNIVERSITY DIRECTORS
The Accused Professor States That He
Wished to Resign During His Last
Vacation, but Remained by
the Pope's orders.

WASHINGTON, oct. 22.-The cardi-
nal, archbishops and bishops constitut-
ing the board of directors of the Cath
olic University OF America have de-
cided to refer the case of Mgr Schroe-
der, professor Of dogmatic theology at
the university. to Pope Leo for final de-
termination. This conclusion was reach
ed late yesterday afternoon and was
formally announced in an official state
ment issued by the board.
The case is one of the most notable
in the recent history of the church, and
besides agitating the hierarchy to the
center, It has been considered at the
Vatican and has been the subject Of ca
bic communications between Rome and
the papal delegate at Washington
Beyond the announcement of their de-
cision the officials declined TO state any
Of the circumstances leading up to the
decision, although there was an abun-
dance of comment on its meaning and
effect 1t was understood that while
the decision was to refer the case to
Rome for final action, yet the board
had expressed its own view, which
would be forwarded to Rome with Mgr.
Schroeder's views and that his retire
ment would come about voluntarily
within a year. Statements that Mgr.
Schroeder had resigned as a prelimina-
ry to the reference of the case to the
pope were positively and authorita-
lively denied.
After the board had adjourned the
monsignore was asked for an authorized
statement He expressed regret at the
prominence given to his name before
the public and said that he most ear
r,fa aI 10 a Z 81 nTnfeSS0T
during his last vacation that he had
been suffering very much from neural
gia while in Germany and the physi-
clans advised him TO resign on account
of the great and continued mental ex-
citement connected with his position;
that he came back to the university be-
cause the holy father told him to do so;
that therefore he could not resign with
out the consent of the holy father; that
as to the personal attacks made upon
him. his answer was only contempt and
! that he was glad to hear that the board
| did not take the charges into consider
| alton.
The Schroeder case has been re-
| markable controversy in many re-
spects. Mgr Schroeder entered the
faculty Of the university when it was
started and has been with it continu-
ously since He is a recognized au-
! thority on doctrinal and philosophical
subjects, a man Of wide scholarship and
considered the foremost Latin orator of
! the church.
or recent years he has differed with
his associates on questions of policy,
and this was intensified at the time OF
the retirement of Bishop Keane from
the rectorship of the university, it be-
ing asserted that Mgr. Schroeder was
in part responsible for that change. He
was regarded as the conspicuous eX-
ponent of the German clergy and the
views they entertained on church pol
ICY
AS a result Of the differences, the at
tention of the board of directors was
brought to DR.. Schroeder's case, with a
view of his removal. When the board
first met, little doubt was felt in uni
versity circles that his retirement
would be brought about. 1t developed
however. that on Sunday last ca
blegram from Rome had been received
by Mgr Martinelli the papal delegate
asking him to inform the board thai
the pope desired Mgr. Schroeder to re
main at the university. 1t was als'
brought to the attention of the board
that Mgr Schroeder had expressed {
willingness to resign if given permis
sion to do so by the pope. Under tn
circumstances, after two days of ear
neat consideration, the decision nov
announced was reached transferring &
Pope Leo the final decision of the case.
At the meeting of the archbshops Z
consider general affairs relating to tn
church it was decided to continue tn
Catholic Indian bureau, with Mgi
Stephan in charge, and to distribut
about Sl77, 900 for Indian schools.