The evening times., 1898-02-26
A PRIEST REPUDIATED.
Archbishop Corrigan Proves the
Americanism of All Catholics.

Americantsm OF All Catuohcs.
New York. Feb 26-Archbishop Corri-
gan has repudiated the Rev. +. Weber,
Catholic priest, now in Kingston, N T.,
who is said to have insulted Americanism
by saying that because Spain Is Cath
Ollie country. IL would be the duty of
Catholics in this country to fight for her
in case America should declare war
against her.
Protests by the dozen poured into the
Archbishop's house all day. Catholics.
lay and clerical, besought him to speak
in defense of the loyalty of his people,
but he had not waited to receive them
before he took decided action.
Father John NJ. Connolly. the Arch
bishops secretary, wrote letter early
in the morning. by order of the Arch
bishop. to Father Kuhnen. pastor of St.
Peters German Catholic Church. in King
ston. where the sermon was preached,
and il is likely that Father Weber will
not be long i'm Kingston. He does not
belong there. as has been supposed, but
is a visitor from a Western parish, and
the Archbishop was glad yesterday that
il was none of the priests within his Ju-
risdiction who had so specifically violat-
i ed one of the most stringent rules of the
| church-that which forbids interference
in affairs of state.
Father Weber's counsel i'm aid of Spain
was the principal topic of conversation
at the regular conferences of the Arch
| bishop and his vicar-generals Bishop
| Farley am. Mgr. Mooney. All three Wig
| orOusly denounced the utterances cred
| tied To the Western priest, and this state
ment was made by the Archbishop:
'l have written TO Father kLhnen In
| reference TO the report of Father Web
| ers utterances. # Father Weber made
the remarks attributed 10 him he win not
| be allowed TO exercise in this State any
longer the functions o: a priest.
II regret that any priest should so fai
| forget himself and the teachings OF oul
! faith as to express sdch sentiments
/ Father Weber, | am glad to saw, Is not {
| priest of this diocese. j know nothing
| about him except that he came from th'
| West to visit Father Kuhnen, and that
as is the custom IN sucn eases. lie wa:
| allowed to exercise his prieStly function:
| while 4 guest here.
| He will not be allowed To DO SO a sin
| gle day longer If he nas been correctl,
quoted. Father kuhnen, who | know, Il
| as loyal an American as lives. will decid
that matter upon receipt of my letter.
Il have been ked 10 make a defens'
| of the Catholic Church i'm my rCpudia
tion of such sentiments as are Crcdite,
| to Father Weber. Why should ] do so
| Who has attacked The loyalty OF tn
| church? Its members need no one TO tel
the people of the country what Is alread!
| known about their patriotism
Catholics all over the city talked harsh
| ly of DR.. Weber, and some of them re
called the statement made long ago b,
Archbishop John Hughes. who said:
| ''lf the Italian government. or the Pop
himself were Ia attempt To invade III
| United States. ! would be the first dow
at the Narrows and fire off the first gun
regardless OF who was killed 10y iys dis
| charge"
/ Among the priests OF this city the Pau
| list Fathers are. perhaps the most sever
i'm their condemnation of Father Weber
| The cogency of Father Weber's sag
remark is palpable." said one OF the hes
known of them. 'Of course. it is under
stood he is spokesman for no one bu
himself, and as long as we maintain tn
| liberty Of free speech and expression W.
must be prepared TO hear things idioti
as well. as things wise. .-
Father Weber'S utterances have beel
made the object of unqualified condem
nation and contempt i'm Catholic circle
today 1t need not be asserted that h.
voices the opinion of no portion whateve
of our Catholic population. PERSONAL!
! never heard OF him until his present i'll
timed remarks gave him the bad emi
nence of an ill-sayoried notoriety.
IF war must come the grand army o
this mans co-religionists that will rusl
out to our battlefields in answer to tn
long roll rallying for the fight will b
sufficient answer to his slur upon on
patriotism.
| Father Weber is said 10 have remark
ed That be has been in Jail more thai
once for having talked too much. Clergy
men whose opinions we respect have nev
| er been in Jail except as they went Their
| on ministries of mercy