The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-08-24
FATHER KEENAN,
AT PARISH HOME
Catholic Priest Welcomed Back
to His Abode.
ACCOUNTS FOR HIS ACTIONS
CONSIDERATION SHOWN FOR
HIM BY BISHOP ScANLAN.

CRUSHED in spirit. the Rev Father
| keenan, returned to the parish
home of the Catholic church at a
late hour Friday night. Here the dis
tressed priest found a warm hearted
welcome from Bishop Seaman and his
fellow churchmen, who have been
moved to sympathize with him ever
since his collapse in church last Sun
day during the preaching of a SER
mon Father Keenan's return without
mishap to him was a source of graft
hcation to the priests whose anxiesv
became intense when his long absence
was unaccOunted for.
So far as the public is concerned, the
stirring incidents relating TO Father
keenan, may now be regarded as closed.
There viii be. however, a further in
Yestigation by Bishop Seaman into the
matter, according TO the canons of the
church Whether or not The embar-
raised priest will be subjected to any
disciplinary methods remains to be de-
terrnined. 1t is not likely. however
mat anything more than "A reprimand
VIII be imposed upon him for not re-
porting his weakened physical condi-
ron and for absenting himself without
the knowledge of his seniors in service
II was not until a late hour Friday
night, after the other priests had re-
tired. that Father keenan, returned To
the parish home. although the anxious
household had been apprised that the
friend who took him away from the
Grand Pacific hotel in the afternoon in
a-elosed carriage TO a family home
would deliver the priest to his own
abode before midnight.
Father Keenan's Explanations.
When asked last evening to make a
statement to The Herald. Father Kee-
nan remarked that too much had al
feaoy-been said in the newspapers
ABOUT his collapse in the pulpit last
sunday and the incidents relating to
his seclusion since then. Explaining
the cause of his peculiar actions while
preaching the sermon, the priest said
he IS sufferer from heart trouble and
mad taken an overdose of digitalis. The
erect was complete change in his
mental activity. In passing, Father
Keenan, added that his heart action
was such that he frequently could not
sleep and at times he would be unable
TO get out of bed. Two years ago his
brother died from heart disease and the
year before his mother was stricken in
like manner.
Recurring to the fact of his COLLAPSE
in the pulpit, Father Keenan, said that
he felt so keeniy the Impressions that
had been enormously formed as to the
cause of his condition that he deter
mined to seek rest in seelusion for a
rev days Without announcing his in
tent1on, he left the city for few DAVIS.
returning by train early Wednesday
morning, and going to the Grand Pa
cific hotel. When he read that his alb
Sence was the serious concern of his
friends and Pensioners he resolved to
come forth, and. did so with the as
sistance of the friend who came for
MIN With a carriage, and later took
him 10 the parish home.
Bishop Is Forgiving.
Father keenan, expressed his appre-
citation of the words of Bishop Scan
Ian, who. upon welcoming him back.
advised him not to worry over the az
fair, but to feel assured that he would
be purged of any accusation of inten-
tional wrongdoing. The aged priest
further expressed appreciation of the
many words OF confidence in him which
had reached him in many ways from
numerous friends. He hopes to resume
his duties soon as chaplain at the Holy
Cross hospital, and later in celebrating
mass and preaching in the cathedral.
Bishop Seaman stated to The Herald
that Father Keenan's distressed con-
dition. he believed. is attributable to
accident in taking an overdose of
digitalis for alienation of prostrating
pains in the heart. He knew it to be
a fact that Father keenan, Tas very
sensitive 10 the sensational reports
that had been published about him
and he was needlessly ashamed and
afraid to come back. The bishop add
ed that the priest was culpable in not
reporting his sick condition and in 60
ing into seclusion- However, he had
advised Father keenan, not to worry
any further, since the priest had dis
tinctly declared that he did not accuse
himself of any moral wrong.
\ cOmmendable tribute was spoken
by Bishop Seaman OF the eminent
worth and services of Father Keenan,
as a priest. who is held in universal
high esteem by people in the church
and outside. and whose confidence he
believes Father keenan, enjoys even
vet. The bishop estimates that any
further investigation into the affair
can concern only himself and the
priest. according to the canons of the
church.
"Wednesday next ''COrianton," after
bA5ne roliShed IN will have farpUeII