Reverend no. 23's story (Crowley, Romanism a menace to the nation, 50th thousand,1912)

Text: "Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women..." Daniel 11:37 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry..." 1 Timothy 4:1-3

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Rev. No. 23.—A Debauchee.

   He was expelled for immorality from the seminary in his native diocese while studying for the priesthood. He then came to his present Archdiocese, and resumed his theological studies in its seminary. After his ordination he was appointed an assistant pastor of a parish in the "tough " section of a large city. He was a frequent visitor at houses of ill-repute. About twelve years ago he was made pastor of his present parish. His career there has been one of drunkenness and debauchery. He visits houses of vice, and takes lewd women back to his parochial home. From November, 1889, to November, 1890, he had illicit relations with Miss —, Mrs. — and Miss —. The last two were supposed to sleep, on their visits to the presbytery, in a room adjoining his, but in the morning only one bed showed signs of having been occupied, and it was the pastor's and clearly showed that it had held two. The first woman was his parishioner and was a virtuous girl until he met and ruined her. Frequently rubber articles were found in his presbytery whose use is familiar to debauchees. He has been afflicted with a loathsome disease and has had medical treatment for it. Rubber articles marked, "For prevention of disease only" were taken out of a garment that he had worn on the preceding Sunday while saying Mass. Miss — was pulled out of his bed at the mid-night hour by two reputable Catholic women.

   At one time his Archbishop gave him $500.00 to pay for church improvements. He spent the money in debauchery, and did not get back to his parish until after the early Sunday Mass, which was said by a Franciscan monk. He was accompanied home from a vile haunt by a suspended priest of a neighboring diocese. He hired a liveryman to drive them home. The carriage bill was $64.00. He was too drunk to say Mass when he got home, and the High Mass was said by the suspended priest. A special collection was taken up for some church purpose, out of which the carriage fare was paid. While lying on the floor of the presbytery drunk, he soliloquized upon his deception of the people, and dismissed the subject with the exclamation: "O, well, if I don't deceive them somebody else will!" A Catholic lady called thrice upon his Archbishop to complain of this priest, but could not see him. Finally the Archbishop's valet told her to go to the Cathedral House and see the Chancellor. She saw this official, but he dismissed her abruptly, saying that he did not believe anything she said about the rector.

   Rev. No. 23 has the reputation of being an eloquent preacher, and his services are in demand by his sinning brethren for special ecclesiastical functions (such as corner stone layings, dedications and jubilees), his Archbishop, who knows about his unholy life, often being present.

   When Rev. No. 23 goes to Hot Springs and other summer and winter resorts his friends address him, verbally and in writing, as "Mr." He goes under the alias of "Mr. Mitchell."

   He has become so depraved that he has low creatures serve him in the ways of Sodom.

   If he had his just deserts he would be transferred from his parish to the penitentiary.

   He is the principal of a parochial school which has enrolled over two hundred pupils, and he vehemently seconds the Catholic clerical demand for State aid for parochial schools.

Crowley, Jeremiah J., Romanism a menace to the nation (a new and original work) together with my former book "The parochial school, a curse to the church, a menace to the nation" (two books in one): a searchlight on the papal system startling charges against individuals in the hierarchy made and filed by the author and a score of prominent priests—with photographic proofs and illustrations, 50th thousand, Aurora, Missouri: The Menace Publishing Co. [, c1912], pp. 441-443.

Online Source: archive.org/details/romanismmenaceto00crowiala

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