The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-22
REFERRED TO POPE LEO
CASE OF MGR. SCHROEDER, OF THE
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY,
Considered by the Directors and Left
to the Holy Father for Decision
Nature of the Charges.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 21.-The cardinal,
archbishops and bishops constituting the
board of directors of the Catholic Univer-
sity of America to-day decided to refer the
case Of Mgr. Schroeder professor of dog
matte theology at the university, to Pope
Leo for final determination. This conclu-
sion was reached late this 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 agtating the
hierarchy to the center and engaging pub
lie attention in this country, it has been
considered at the Vatican and has been the
subject of cable communications between
Rome and the papal delegate at Washing
ton The decision of the board, as given
out by the secretary, Mgr. Conaty, is as
follows:
THE board was notified that Mgr Schroe-
der intended to send in his resignation dur
ing his last stay in Germany, but that he
did not do SO on account of advice received
from the Holy Father. The board there
fore, leaves the final decision to the Holy
Father himself, and expresses it's regret at
the many charges made against Mgr.
Schroeder in this connection"
1t was understood that, while the deci-
sion was to refer the case to Rome for final
action yet the board had expressed it's own
view, which would be forwarded to Rome
with Mgr. Schroeder's views, and that his
retirement would come about voluntarily
within a year. Statements that Mgr.
Schroeder had resigned as a preliminary TO
the reference of the case to the Pope were
positively and authoritatively denied.
After the board had adjourned a reporter
asked the monsigneur for an authorized
statement. He EXPRESSED the
prominence given to his name before the
pubic, and said that he most earnestly
wanted to resign as a professor during his
last vacation; that he had been suffering
very much from neuralgia while in Ger
many and the physicians advised him to
resign on account OF the great and con-
tinued mental excitement connected with
his position; that he came back to the uni
versity because the Holy Father told him
to do so; that, therefore, he could not re-
sign without the consent of the Holy
Father; that as to the personal attacks
made upon him his answer was only con-
templated, and that he was only glad to
hear that the board did not take the
charges into consideration.
The Schroeder case has been a remark
able controversy in many respects. Mgr.
schroeder entered the faculty of the uni
versity when it was started, and has been
nized authority on doctrinal and philosophy
cal subjects, man of wide scholarship and
considered the foremost Latin orator of the
church. OF 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 rec
torship of the university, it being asserted
that Mgr. Schroeder was in part RESPONSE
BILE for that change. He was regarded as
the conspicuous exponent of the German
clergy and views they entertained on
church policy. AS a result of differences,
the attention 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 university cir
cles that his retirement would be brought
about 1t developed, however, that on Sun
day last a cablegram from Rome had been
received by Mgr. Martinelli, the .papal del
egate, asking him to inform the board that
the Pope desired Mgr. Schroeder to remain
at the university 1t was also brought to
the attention of the board that Mgr.
Schroeder had expressed a Willingness to
resign if given permission to do so by the
Pope. Under the circumstances, after two
days of earnest consideration. the decision
announced to-day was reached transfer
ring to Pope Leo the final decision of the
case.
At the meeting of the archbishops to con-
slider general affairs relating to the church
il was decided to continue the Catholic In
dian bureau, with Mgr. Stephan in charge,
and to distribute about 600 for Indian
schools