Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1912-08-08
TO FIGHT TAX ON
NEW CATHEDRAL
Catholic Diocese Instructs
Counsel to Start League
Action.


Taxation of the new Sacred Heart
Cathedral by the city board will be
fought by the diocese of Newark.
Bishop O'Connor has put the mat
contention will be that under a strict
Interpretation of the law the church..
which is in course of construction, is
actually and exclusively used for di-
vine worship. The cornerstone. which
was laid several years ago, may be
opened to ecure documentary evil
dence that the edifice was dedicated
to religious uses only.
The cathedral. together with other
religious. charitable and educational
institutions, has been assessed for the
first time this year, as was told ex-
clusively in The Star yesterday. The
cathedral assessment is $50. 900. The
Tax Board, at the direction of the
county board, levied under an en-
forcement of the general tax law that
makes all property not used actually
and exclusively for religious purposes
taxable. 1t is held that since the
cathedral is onlysin course of con-
striuction it is notsstherefore, in use
for worship.
wnI fright Axssssmeat.
William j. Kearnss counsel to
Bishop OsConnor, when asked If the
diocese had been officially notified of
the assessment and as to. what steps,
II any, are being taken on appeal,
said:
Eyes, the diocese has been notified
hat it's property, located at 126-1SS
Clifton avenue, in this city, has been
assessed at a valuation of $4,000.
This is the new Cathedral of the Sa-
cred Heart, and the notice comes
from the Newarl2tax commissioners.
.'Of course. we will resist this as
sessment. The right reverend bishop
has handed the notice to me as at
torney for the diocese. and has con-
| ferred with me as his counsel about
1t.
"I understand that the conten-
ton of the city is that this property
is not entitled to exemption because
the new Catholic carthedral is not ac-
tually in use at the present time for
religious worship and that they have
a legal right to tax 1t while in proc
ess of construction.
Building. Used for Worship.
.The statute does say that all
buildings actually and exclusively
Used for religious worship shall be
exempt. This building has been ac-
tually and exclusively used for re-
ligious worship. The clergy have as
sembled there and held solemn re-
ligious services at the laying of the
| corner stone, and the blessing of the
foundation walls, and regularly since
| that time the Catholics of the New
ark diocese have gathered together
to worship God in the benediction of
the blessed sacrament. and at the
Holy Name parades and other re-
| ligious professions. l shall certainly
file an appeal from this tax.
I'VE cannot admit for a moment
| the principle involved in its imposi-
| ton, and If necessary will fight it to
the court of last resort. The Catho-
lies of the diocese of Newark contrib
| ute toward the public revenues even
| more than their share, when it is
| considered what heavy expenses they
undergo for the maintenance of their
parochiaI schools, which their con-
| sciences oblige them NO maintain, to
insure the Christian education of
their children. and thus a great ex-
penditure of money is saved to the
taxpayers"