Waterbury Democrat., 1901-12-30
wITHDRAWs FROM K. OF c.
We'll Known Hartford Lawyer Leaves
 the Order


 James J. Quinn, well-known lawyer of this city, says the Hartford Cou- rant, on Saturday delivered to John +. Callahan, grand knight of Hartford council, No 161. Knights of Columbus, notice of his withdrawal as member of that body. The Knights of Colum- bus is Roman Catholic organization and is sanctioned by the church in this section. MT Quinn is member of the Knights of Pythias, and according to his letter of withdrawal. there was opposition to his being q member of the Knights of Columbus while he was: a member of the Knights of Pythias. as the latter society is one of the secret societies which is under the ban of the Roman Catholic church. MT Quinn is a brother of the Rev John J. Quinn, for, many years a priest at Col linsville, who was recently transferred to Taftville.
 MT Quinn has been prominent in the Knights of Columbus. He was the first grand knight of Hartford council. He was four times a delegate to the state convention, a delegate from the, state convention to the national con- yention and a member of the board of trustees of the national body. He has been recognized as one of the best known K. of c. men ill the state and has been a member of the organization for more than eight years.
 Some members of the Roman Cath ollie church who had learned of MT Quinn's withdrawal said yesterday that they considered his action q prac- tical withdrawal from the church. Un- der the law of the church no Roman Catholic can be member of society under the churchS ban and at the same time be a member of the church. All who die members of such societies are considered by the church to have died outside the Roman Catholic com munion. They are deprived of Chris tian burial under the law of. the church and the body cannot be buried in the consecrated portion of Roman Catholic cemetery. There have been cases where Roman Catholics have been publicly communicated from the altar for utilization wiht these se- cret societies.
 Rev Walter J. Shanley, rector of St Joseph's cathedral, who is referred to in Mir Quinns letter as having pre- ferred charges against MT Quinn, was out of town yesterday afternoon. and therefore could not be seen. Bishop Tierney told a reporter that although he knew nothing about MT Quinn's case, he knew that Roman Catholics were forbidden to join such oath bound secret societies. Four such societies were under the ban of the papal au- thority at Rome, the Free Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Sons of Temperance, not temperance socie- ties. The Free Masons had been un- der the ban for many years, and his recollection was that the three other societies had been placed under the ban within a comparatively recent period. He understood that there were other oath bound secret societies to which some Roman Catholics belonged. but the subordinate branches of the church never took action unless the papal authorities had forbidden mem- bers of the church belonging to them. He had frequently advised members of the Roman Catholic church not to join any oath bound secret society, and had told others who were members that they were doing wrong in belonging and should withdraw at once He, as head of the church in this diocese, never took the initiative in expulsion or communication of any. member of the church who belonged to an oath bound secret society, nor does any priest. If the society was officially under the ban of the Roman Catholic church, then no member of the church could belong to it.