Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-07-09
Had Maligned a Jesuit of Rome, Hi
One Time Friend.
TRIAL CONTINUED TWO WEEKS
Able Lawyers Represented Parties tn
the suit and Minister of Justice
Advocated the side of the
Plaintiff.
RY cLEMENr ]. RARRErT.

ROME, July S-<Special to The Bee. D.
Amongst the audiences granted recently
by the pope was one given to Father Carlo
Bricarelli. whose suit against Verdesi. an
ex-priest has been the talk OF Rome. The
pontiff congratulated this Jesuit on the re-
suit of the trial.
The case OF Father BricarelH against
Verdesi for defamation was brought to a
close this week. The accused had claimed
that while in the confessional he told
Father Bricareln that there were some
priests who questioned some Catholic doc
trines; that these names WERE revealed to
the pope. and that as a consequence every
man whose name was mentioned was either
suspended or transferred from this city.
The evidence showed that Mr.. Yerdesi had
lied.
The trial. with the ableat lawyers on each
side. lasted two weeks. II would be a
task to review the strange things that
came up in the examination of witnesses.
And II was also considered strange to hear
the public minister appeal for justice In
favor Of the Jesuit verdesi was condemned
to ten months imprispnment, Sss francs
fine and the damages and expenses of the
suit.
Verdesi Changeable.
Verdesi began his religious career as a
Benedictine student. firing of this. he ran
away and was found by his family with
Methocists. He repented and returned to
the Benedictines. who. however. not long
afterwards advised his removal. since he
showed no aptitude for monastic life. He
was then admitted to the Roman seminary
and finally ordained a priest Father
Bricarelh. who had befriended him
throughout. was for some time his con-
fessor and remained his friend after 1907,
the year in which Verdesi. removed some
distance from Rome. ceased TO come to him
for confession. On one occasion in 1903
when Verdesi was paving a friendly visit
to BricareIi. their conversation fell on
the Modernist movement and Verdesi be-
trayed so much knowledge of what was
actually going on among the Modernists
that Brcarellfs suspicious were aroused
Pressed for an explanation Verdesi ad-
mitted that he had attended Modernist
meetings and was on friendly terms with
the leaders. He also gave a sensational
account OF the language used by the Mod
ernistS in attacking the authority Of the
church.
Made Signed Statement.
having had anything to do with these
people, insisted upon Verdesi doing his duty
as loyal priest and denouncing those
who were disloyal Verdesi signed a state
ment, according to his own information.
in which certain priests-Ernesto Bonaiuti.
Nicola rurelei, Mario Rossi. Ottorino Coppa
and others. were accused of Modernist
propaganda This deposition. upon which
the church authorities acted suspendinK
the accused priests, were not made in any
way as confession. That Verdesi. in fact.
had for some time gone for confession
to another priest, and. finally. that Verdesi
was cognizant OF the use to which the
deposition would be put and endorsed the
proposition.
Nerdesi repented again. The cause of his
second repentance was his failure TO obtain
promotion and an assignment to. duty In
the Vatican.
He is a Methodist Just at this moment
but he is said to be turning towards the
Roman church once more.