Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-28
nonncum ANA Mnrnhr.

LINCOLN, Jan. 26.--To the Editor OF The
Bee: For many years past some news
papers of this country have at intervals
published telegraph dispatches purporting
to come from authoritative sources In
Rome. in regard to the so-cailed Bonacum-
Murphy controversy.
For several years I have repeatedly called
the attention OF your readers to the fact
that no credence should be given to such
dispatches. These pseudo Roman kilograms
never saw Rome, as they originated, not
In Rome, but here in the United States
Yesterdays telegram is a word for word
copy of another telegram purporting to
come from Rome and bearing the date OF
July r. 1906, excepting the following
words: Bishop Bonacum has arrived
here (Rome). (See Omaha World Herald
OF July H. 1900. The same old trickstcrs
come IN once more to serve the public
with the same dose OF deception. But their
tricks are well known to the bishops and a
great majority of the priests of this coup
try. These tricksters have been unmasked
many times and have never dared to an
swer my letters given TO the public press.
. Time has proved my assertions. which.
after ALL are based on official documents
received from Rome. have time and
again asserted that as far as Rome Is con-
cerned the Murphy case is closed. never
to be reopened. The supreme authority
In the,-church vested the right reverend
bishop with special and plenary powers to
deal with the insurgent priest. The bishop
exercised thor powers and the priest was
condemned This priest attempted to APP
peal to Rome three times. and three times
Rome rejected his appeal. AS the priest
did not submit. consequently be became
A. A. AU.N1 N.g1
far as the church is concerned. II only
remains to be seen whether the courts Of
Nebraska win protect the Catholic church
in its property rights. Thus far they have
Jailed 20 do So and at Seward the strange
spectacle is presented of six schismatic
families. headed by a schismatic and ex-
communicated priest. holding the church
property and forcing the congregation to
worship in a public hall.
Bishop Bonacum has gone 10 Rome.
Everybody knows that. Our old tricksters
do too, and they could not resist the temp
tation to resort to their old tricks. They
say that the Murphy case is undergoing
new phase. No. sir! Rome has spoken
once. The priest must bow and comply
with her decision. That's all.
Bishop Bonscum is gone to Rome not on
account OF that schismatc priest, but TO
make his ad limina visit. Every Catholic
| bishop must go to Rome 10 pay such visit.
Ad limina visitatiO means that every Cath
Ollie bishop must go to Rome 10 pay the
| tribute and homage due to the head OF
Christendom. The Italian, Spanish and
French bishops must go every three years
The German bishops must go every hys
years, the American bishops. on account OF
the great distance, pust go every ten years
Bishop Bonacum has not been In Rome for
| the last ten years. consequently he would
not fulhl his sacred duty had he not gone
this year to the Eternal City. These dis
patches, then, are misleading and are sent
out 10 influence frst OF all the action OF the
| civil courts OF Nebraska. leading them &c
believe that Rome has not passed Judgment
on the case. and secondly, to keep the mis-
| guided followers OF the schismatic priest
from falling away from him entirely.
Before l hnsh. permit me to say. FIRST
that the American consul at Rome has
/ never ana can never, interfere In this