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Show Bishop Matz Not Asked to Resign. , X RT. REV. NICHOLAS CHRYSOSTOM MATZ. Rome, Nov. 23. The pope's entourage deny the report circulated in the United Unit-ed States by a news agency that Bishop Bish-op Matz of Denver has been asked for his resignation on account of his difficulties dif-ficulties with the Irish-American clergy cler-gy of Denver. Further inquiries brought out an official of-ficial statement to the effect that Bishop Bish-op Matz-Tiad not been asked to resign. "The information that the Vatican has sustained Bishop Matz is not surprising sur-prising to me." said Father William O'Ryan to a Denver News reporter. "The bishop is held in the 'highest esteem es-teem by all the clvrgy of the diocese without regard to nationality. Two suspended priests, named Culkin and Cus'hing. are responsible for the complaint. com-plaint. Father Culkin was suspended because he was deemed mentally unbalanced, un-balanced, and Father Cushing because he was incapable of performing his priestly duties. Father Cushing was ordered back to college to complete his education, but refused to go. Instead In-stead he went tc: Rome, where he found Father Culkin. Both have endeavored en-deavored to cause trouble for the bish-PP. bish-PP. but it is apparent from the dispatch dis-patch that the latter's visit has removed re-moved all misunderstanding. Hereafter Here-after the bishop may rely upon the support of the pontiff and those who j are near him." ' i New York. Nov. 25. A dispatch to; the Herald from Rome says: i "Owing to the friction between the bishop and the clergy of Denver, several sev-eral priests visiter! Rome. There was a fracas among the clergymen recently and an intervention of the police took place. Father Cushing was arrested, but immediately released." "The controversy reported by the 1 Herald took place eleven days ago," said Father O'Ryan last evening. "Father Cushing is one of the two suspended priests from the diocese of Colorado who are now in Rome. He called at the house where Bishop Matz j wa stopping and demanded an audi- i ence. It was refused and he indulged in some loud talk. The gen d'armes were called and he was removed to an insane asylum. After a time he became be-came calm and was permitted to go. The dispatch is in error when it says that 'several' priests visited Rome. Fathers Culkin and Cushing are the only ones now there, and, as the News has stated before, they have been suspended. sus-pended. The most pleasant relations exist between the "bishop and t'he remainder re-mainder of the clergy of this diocese. "Since leaving for Rome Bishop Matz has sent Fathers Phillips and j Robinson weekly letters. He has been j delighted with his journey. Before go- I ing to Rome he visited the shrine of I i Lourdes in the Pyrenees. He spent, eleven days in the EternaJ city and had an audience with the Pope which was most satisfactory. The Pontiff now j understands that all the trouble in this I diocese was caused by the two sus- pended priests, and that they are now probably mentally unbalanced. From 1 Rome Bishop Matz journeyed to Paris, where he is at present. He will reach this city before Christmas, probably on Dec. 23." . |