The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-28
FATHER CARAHER
ANSWERS FATHER OTIS,
DIsAGREES WITH THE REV
EREND GENTLEMAN.
Commends the Decisive Action of the
Police in Closing More Dens
of Vice Yesterday.

Father Caraher of st. Francis Church
has submitted the following reply to th'
letter from Father Otis. published in yes
terday's Call:
Editor of The Cal-Dear Sir: In to-day's
sailed for the stand 1 have taken against
a dire evil and for my defense of thousands
of children and adults; The two letters OF
my censor are remarkable only for mis-
representation, passion and reckless asser-
tions. In the second letter he does not, as
in the first, suggest that change my
residence in certain circumstances, for he
knows, or should know, that l have no
rural ABODE ana that IN no case coulo l
think OF scampering to an Eastern nome
This diocese is mine by adoption; here
have labored, however feebly and unfruit-
fully, for twenty-five years and here IN
tend to end my days.
The appeal TO St Pauls writings to sub
stantiate the fearful doctrine that the
denominations of Sodom and Gomorrah are
kindred" crimes to buying and selling in
the temple is, to say the least unjust TO
lions the sinners that shall be excluded
from heaven if they die in these speclnc
sins, but neither he. nor any tneologlan
dare teach that buying and selling are
kindred or cognate to these aoomlna-
lions.
Time and again my self-appointed censor
strives to make me use the word 'Iocalize,
which 1 have studiously avoided l have
said that cit is my belief that filth should
diffused," and I think that any sane man
will admit the correctness of this benei.
When building or locality is INVADED by
smallpox it is quarantined, and there IS
neither ingress nor egress, lest the con-
tagion spread. In the case under consldera-
ton the evil was being rapidly dlnused,
the diffusion had already reached. and
threatened to ruin this section of the city,
and the diffusers cannot now escape from
their criminal part in the work 80
My censor asks me to furnish him with
the proofs in my possession that move
ment was on foot to dump the hlth OF ms
locality at our DOORS and offers me valuable
assistance against any such future move
ment What effronfery 10 ask rdnf me 70 o ouP
equaled by his indiseretion in starring d
controversy. AS to his assistance IN the
future, 1 disdain to receive any from such
a source. Nevertheless. these proofs are IN
my possession, and am ready to present
them when the demand comes from the
In writing of the destruction OF Sodom
and Gomorrah 1 stated 1 was far from sug-
present evil much though I desire to see
1t extinguished, but my censor leads US 70
say that we indorse his disapproval of the
means employed by God, etc. This language
could be easily construed to imply threat
to burn property, II not persons, ana me
man who uses II might be easily connected
with future conflagrations. Not only would
/ not burn nor kill any of these unfortonate
women. but 1 am ready to provide a home
for any one in my parish that shows signs
of repentance am ready 10 re receive we any my
ceived the Magdalene and as my predeces-
sors in the priesthood received MARY Mary OF OF
ali made to the image and likeness Of God
That image and likeness, though dis
figured still remain. and from their
fallen state they may be raised to the glory
of heaven.
The writer most unfairly separates the word
"i1npounded'' from the word compressed,
whereas 1 had closely connected them and
in contradstinction to the term 'dinused;
Not once did declare the impoundtng of the
evil a necessity. yet the writer harps upon
its necessity, and in this relation makes
distasteful allusion to 'our nonasteries and
converts The impression is disingenu-
ously sought to be conveyed that l am op-
posed to the enforcement of the law in the
case under consideration, but it is my deter
mination to enforce the law that has lately
moved Chief Lees to act so sweepingly in
this neighborhood. The Chief has done more
in the last twenty-four hours than ex-
pected from him in six months.
The singing out from all the fnhabi-
tants of the city as the cognizant of the
disreputable dens in the writer's neighbor-
hood and as the competent witness to appear
before Chief Lees is too ridiculous to notice,
and the sudden change from ''coercing" to
"cajoling'' the Supervisors is most laugh
able 1 have full confidence in the gentle
men of the board. I believe that they are
disposed to do justice to all, and that they
are superior to threats and caiolery.
October 81 1898 T. CARAHER.