Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-27
"DECE|TFUL METHODS USED
To OBTAIN SIGNATURES. !"
Judgement of Bishops Who Examined Bill
The Statement in Part-Difference with
French Canadians Results in Sermon and
Declarations OF Defiance at st. Therese.
BISHOP WALsH,s STATEMENT.

WAE9EN - Em
Portland. Me, June 26.-Bishop
Louis S. Walsh, bishop of the diocese
of Portland, which includes the entire
State, today issued to the pastors of
Catholic churches through the State a
true statement of fact in regard to
the recent Interdict against six lay
men in the Diocese of Portland, be-
cause of so many misstatements, and
hence public misinterpretation have
appeared from several sources, some,
no doubt, unintentional, others plainly
false and malicious. 1t is the first
public utterance of Bishop Walsh on
a subject that has created wide
spread interest. The statement in
part is as follows:
THE Interdict was published in the
above form at the urgent request of
several priests, who declared that the
parties under interdiet had no right
whatever to represent the Canadian
people or societies and who feared
that some of their faithful people were
being deceived and injured by them.
The words of the decree prove
.eonclusively that the Interdict was not
imposed because these parties offered
a petition to the Legislature, since the
right of petition is a constitutional
right of every freeborn or adopted
citizen of our republic. This point is
not in the controversy. The matter.
manner and spirit of any petition or
bill are subject to all the rules of rea-
son, equity, justice, church discipline.
catholic appreciation and propriety;
hence the wording of the decree, the
grave public scandal by their various
words and acts in a recent attack on
church authority, church property and
church law. i'm one word. the main
features and spirit of the whole affair
from the start at the convention of
Brunswick in 1909 to the day when
the decree was issued.
THESE various words and acts are part
ly in the bill proposed as a substitute for
the Corporation Sole. several sections of
this bill are (a) subversive of the con-
stitution of the church. in open defiance
OF the Councils of Baltimore and opposed
to the laws of the Diocese, Oh would moan
practical control and perhaps even con.
hscation of church property by Iaymen
tc) would disrupt unity and order in
every parish where applied, (d1 would not
could not and did not have the approba-
ton of any reputable theologian canonigt
fnancier administrator or even any re.
spectacle educated Catholic at all familiar
with the little Cateehism of Rome, Balti-
more or Quebec. tel Ia one word, was a
seandaious attempt to overthrow the eeit-
innate authority OF bishop and priest and
TO bring lay socialism into the admins
tratlon of church affairs. This is the
judgment not only OF the Bishop OF Port.
land and many other bishops, who exam
med it, but of all honest men who read
tho bill and tried to analyze it's meaning
The various words and acts were also flag
rant in the speeches and letters that APP
peared in few places, notably in Bidde-
ford, and in newspapers before, during and
after the legislative session. Partly again
in the dark and deceitfu methods OF OBJ
tanning signatures TO the petition among
the people who often did not see the bill
and knew not what they were doing. Part
ly because the so-calIed Committee of the
National Cause by its subcommittee as
sumed a new role and took unto Itself
" htW ana idtae HUG III appearing be-
fore the Legislature, VIZ Members of the
executive committee Of the French Ameri-
can Catholics Of the State of Maine
Partly because Of the open and yelled
threats to taking vengeance upon all per-
sons. priests and legislators, who opposed
the petition Partly in the open declara-
ton after their overwhelming defeat in
tho Legislature that they would continue
all the same tactics at any and all costs
to the Catholic church of Maine. Partly
because the PERSONAL and, according to
many selfish ends and political chicanery
of the chiefs became more and more evil
don't
Every honorable, personal and official
method was used by the bishop before the
bill was presented and since that time to
bring the petitioners to a Catholic appre-
citation of things.
"The Corporation Sole is in no way. |
shape or manner connected with tue al |
legged grievances of the French Canadian |
people OF societies. 1t is simply per- |
missive title for holding property.
"The publicity of this affair has been
greatly Increased by the recent meeting