The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1921-04-21

Archbishop Sebastian G. Messmer of
the Milwaukee diocese on Friday after
noon issued the formal interdict plac-
ing the Congregation of our Lady Of
the Holy Rosary, at Kenosha under
the ecclesiastical ban, until such a
time as the Catholic members Of the
parish will show their due submission
and obedience to ecclesiastical author
ity The order also eXcommunicates
from the Catholic church the "ring-
leaders and agtators in this rebellion
against church authority and all other
Catholic Italians who have taken active
part in the riotous proceedings" There
is no specific mention of names in the
interdict but it is said that the people
so communicated will be advised Of
the action Of the head of the church
at the proper time In submitting the
interdict which is addressed to the
italian Catholics of Kenosha. Wis"
the Archbishop has sent the following
letter to the Editor Of the Evening
News.
Archbishop's Residence
1000 Grand Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
April IA, 1921,
Editor of the Evening News,
Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Dear Sir:
You will greatly oblge me by pub
fishing in your paper, "The News, the
enclosed letter to the Catholic Italians
Of Kenosha. Please to publish it in
tomorrow's or at least on Saturday.
Sincerely yours,
S. G. Messmer.
Denies Right of Christian Burial.
The formal order which was received
at the News Office just after four
o'clock on Friday afternoon is as fol-
lows:
Archbishop's Residence
1000 Grand Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
April Is, 1921
70 the Italian Catholics of Kenosha,
Wis.
In view Of the disgraceful and rebel
lious actions of a number of ostensibly
Catholic Italians and members Of the
Congregation of Our Lady of the Holy
Rosary Of Kenosha, i am compelled to
take the following measures:
l. The church of the Congregation
Of our Lady of the HOLY Rosary at Ke-
nosha is hereby placed under the ec-
clesiastical interdict, and no RELIGIOUS
services Of anv kind are allowed there
in. The church will remain closed to
any and all RELIGIOUS functions until
such time when the Catholic members
Of that parish will show their due sub
mission and obedience to ecclesiastical
authority.
2. The ringleaders and agitators in
this rebellion against church authority,
and all other Catholic Italians who
have taken active part in the riotous
proceedings at the premises of the con-
gregaton, ere hereby communicated
from the Catholic church and debarred
from her sacraments and christian bur
ial, until such time when they will
prove themselves truly repentent, make
public apology for the scandal given
and the wrong done, and promise true
and loyal obedience to the laws of
Holy Church.
8. In the meantime, by my author
ity and order, all the property and
premises of the congregation as we'll
as the books and records Of the congre-
cation, are placed into the custody,
charge and protection of the public au-
thorities of the state, until such time
as I in my capacity as head of the do
cese and of the congregation of Our
Lady Of the Holy Rosary shall demand
such property back into my charge.
4. Catholic Italians are to under
stand that if they want to be Catholics,
they must obey the laws Of the Cath
Ollie Church and respect it's authority,
whether it be vested in the Pope, the
Bishop, or the Pastor of the parish.
If they do not wish to do so, they are
free, as far as the civil law is con-
cerned, to leave the Catholic Church
and join some Protestant denomination
or no church at ALL This is matter
of their own conscience, not mine. But
they cannot take the affairs of the
Church into their own hands independ-
emit of or against the authority of the
Church. They must either obey the
laws of the Church or get out.
Signed,
S. G. Messmer,
Archbishop.
Countersigned by B. G. Traudt, Chan
cellor.
Cav Comment Is Unnecessary