The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-20
BOLT AGAINST THE BISHOP.
SECULAR CLERGY ARE UP IN ARMS
AGAINST HIS POLICY.

mission From Rome for All Tha
He Has DOne-Charges That the
bishop Did Not Put Himself En-
rapport with the Clergy When He
Came 10 Georgia-Safd to Have
Been DictatOrinI, But shows That
Harmony Prevailed in All the
Changes That Were Made-SensR-
tionaI wrangIe Among Catholic
Clergy.
There is a movement on the part of the
secular clergy Of the Catholic church in
Georgia to revolt against the ecclesiastical
policy Of Bishop Becker.
An appeal has been made to Archbishop
Martne.H, at Washington, representative
of Leo XIII, and. according to the appeal,
there is a widespread revolt against the
methods Of the bishop.
Bishop Becker was seen last night by a
Morning News reporter and gave some in
formation, which explains the move
ment, and gives the hush to much
that has been made public concerning it.
The first news of the revolt appeared
in a dispatch purported to have been sent
out from Washington, the headquarters
Of Archbishop Mertinellt but which 1t Is
thought by many in this city was sen.
from Atlanta.
In the dispatch it is stated that 'the re-
volt is one which grows out Of a want Of
harmony between the bishop and his
clergy, and this feeling was emphasized
by the recent triumphant tour of Arch
bishop Gross of Portland. Ore, through
Id. ola ,5iorosa Of Savannah
The following Is the language used in
the dispatch in recounhng the causes
which led to the opposition to Bishop
Becker:
Thirteen years ago Bishop Gross, then
of Savannah, was transferred to Portland,
and Bishop Becker Of Wilmington, Del,
was transferred to Georgia. When Bishop
Becker reached his post Of duty he failed
10 put himself en- rapport with the clergy
already in the diocese, which course was
intensified by his bringing with him the
Rev. Benjamin J. Kelley, an eloquent cler-
gyman, whom he made vicar general and
established in Atlanta. although there
was at the time a vicar general, Father
Cafferty, in Office While the latter con-
tinued to hold Office, the former was in
reality the bishops constant representa-
tive, and enjoyed all the favors of pat
ronage.
Thus matters have progressed until
about three years ago, when Father
Schlenke of Columbus was peremptorily
removed from his parish and reduced to
q curacy in Savannah. With German per-
tinacity, Father Schlenke appealed TO Car
dinal Satoli, and was by him reinstated.
This was the first backbone which was
given TO the feeling against the bishops
policy.
Recently Bishop Becker has abolished
one of the parish churches In Atlanta,
turning il over 10 the Marists, at the same
time giving them control of entire North
Georgia, as well as a considerable slice of
South Georgia around Brunswick. The
priests in the territory thus given away
protested loudly, and have sent an appeal
10 Archbishop Martinelli, which has been
signed, not only by themselves, but by
the other secular clergy, with possibly one
exception. They claim in their appeal to
Archbishop Martinelli that they have been
deprived Of their means of sustenance,
after having given their lives to church
work, and they further point out that the
policy OF giving away the most important
parts of the diocese to the church orders
discourages the secular clergy and breaks
up all future possibilities of ambition, cit
ing as an evidence that during the last
ten years there has not been vocation
for the secular clergy in the state, a con-
dition of things brought about by the
knowledge Of the people that there IS no
promotion ahead for young LeVites since
all the choice places will be filled by Jes-
uits, Marists. and other church orders
I'm all of this disagreement there is no
intimation Of any lapse Of morals or want
Of zeal. only that the bishop Is pursuing
a fatal policy in governing his diocese,
which viii prevent 1t from showing as
good a record as those about IL. He had
previously given away the city of Macon,
the third catholic point of importance in
the state. 10 the Jesuits, so that a secular
clergyman visiting that point is out Of his
element. Half of Augusta was likewise
disposed Of. Bishop Becker is a student
and recluse, mixing very little with peo-
pie, and is unapproachable because of his
reserve"
When Bishop Becker was seen by the
Morning News he was asked about the al
legged revolt against MIN, and was shown
the dispatch. His statement concerning
the affair explains his action in regard to
the secular clergy since he came to Geor-
gla.
In the first place he said that he has
not received any official communication
concerning the appeal, from Archbishop
Martinelli, land until / do receive some
official communication" he said, II do
not care to talk publicly"
II seems, however that the bishops
policy is not 50 open to criticism as the
purported dispatch from Washington
would make IL appear. 1t appears that In
so far as the Atlanta end of the sensa-
ton Is concerned Very Rev. Benjamin j.
Kelley. who was Bishop Beckers vicar
general In Wilmington before he came 20
Georgia, at the time OF his transfer,
was In Rome. Cardinal Simeoni. the pre-
feet Of the Propaganda, asked him If he
cared 70 accompany his bishop
TO Georgia. and Father Kelly at
once agreed TO do So His
position In Wilmington was much better
than any he could POSSIBLY get In the
south His well known ability demanded
for him better position than any that
could be offered, ana his talent, zeal and
learning could not be called into ques-
ton.
As TO the cause for a revolt against
the bishop the case OF Father
Schlenke, Il IS claimed that Father
Schlenke, OF his own consent. left Coum-
bus and came 10 Savnnah. He never ap-
pealcd 70 Cardinal Satolu and was sent