The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-10-05
BEFORE A TRIBUNAL.
Rev. Jean Berger of
North Brookfield
Testifes.
BISHOP WILL WEIGH EVIDENCE.
Decision in Peculiar Case
May Be Given Out
Saturday.
BISHOP WILL WEIGH EVIDENCE.

| Springfield, Oct. 4.-Rev. Jean Berger,
pastor of the new French church at
North Brookheld, appeared before an
ecclesiastical tribunal in this city today,
charged with disobedience to the church
authorities. Father Berger started his
church, the foundations for the build
ing of which were laid yesterday, de-
spite the order of Bishop Thomas D..
Beaver, who forbade such action.
The accused was not represented by
counsel at today's trial, which was con-
Quoted in the presence of a number OF
the leading clergy Of the diocese. The
| session was not a lengthy one, and at
Its close Father Berger Immediately
left.
The evidence in the case will be sub
mitted to Bishop Beaver, who is eX-
pected to render a decision in short
time. In case the defendant is found
guilty he can appeal to the college of
cardinals, which is the last court of
resort. The penalty imposed on one
adJudged guilty of this offense is eX-
communication from the Roman Cath
ole church.
This is the first time that a case of
this kind has come before the autholi-
ties of this diocese, although a some
what similar one was decided upon in
the case Of Polish church in Chicopee,
few years ago.
The case Of Father Berger as summed
up by those who have followed it, is
this:-
Bishop Beaver notified Father Berger
he was in the diocese exercising the
faculties of a priest without authority,
and that if he did not desist, the bishop
would have to apply the laws made for
those disobedient to constituted author
ity. He told him not to officiate and
said he would be liable to suspension.
Father Berger not only officiated, but is
said to have made light of the bishops
| authority. Then the bishop sent let
ter suspending Father Berger. The lat-
ter OBLIGATED afterward, in spite of the
bishops mandate, to whom belongs the
sole right of jurisdiction in the diocese.
Then the procurator fisealis took up
the case, obtained the affidavits of the
two eye witnesses, and Bishop Beaver
summoned the court for today.
After the bishop had decided against
the people who wished to separate
from the North Brookfield church. the
matter was brought before the apos-
tolic delegate, but was also decided
against the people. 1t was then taken
to Rome, where the position of the au-
thorities of the church in this country
was maintained. Father Berger was
then called to North Brookfield by the
seceders, with the result as above an
nounced.
In order to bring the case before the
court, it was necessary that two eye
witnesses make affidavit that Rev. Jean
Berger celebrated mass after the date
of his suspension, when his faculties
were Withdrawn.
According to the DEGREES Of the coun-
Gil of Baltimore, the bishop acts as A
kind father in such a case. He tries
to prevent scandal, and counsels the
wrongdoer, in order to win him back
into the path of the church. If this
does not suffice, he must act according
ly, and endeavor to find out the truth,
without prejudice. As judge he must
be wholly impartial in his rulings Tie
defendants attorney has rights similar
to those in the civil courts and can
object, examine, cross-examine and
argue his case.