Luers, John Henry Bishop of Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1859 November 13

Luers has withdrawn all faculties form Father Edward O'Flaherty of Crawfordsville. O'Flaherty a few Sundays ago excommunicated a couple of fellow Irishmen and when they came to church the following Sunday said could not say Mass until they left the church. He has done this repeatedly before. Last Easter he so cursed and drove away a man because he did not have the "dollar" which is demanded beside the pew rent on Christmas and Easter. He has rendered himself odious and given scandal. At Attica a Mr. Hughes left 4 lots to the church. The railroad paid for 2 that were cut up. With this money and other church money O'Flaherty bought a lost in his own name and will not deed it over. He intends to appeal to Purcell. Luers is sorry that Bishop elect John Quinlan is to be consecrated in New Orleans instead of Cincinnati. If Purcell has told Quinlan that he wrote to Rome about a certain person, he is to beg him to keep silence on the matter. Mr. J.P. Walsh will hand Purcell an ordo that he obtained at South Bend in which he will find many decrees of the Congregation of Rites which are not deserved. If the orations were said as there listed the deceased bishops would get more prayers. He wishes Purcell a safe trip to New Orleans. :: II-4-o A.L.S. 4pp. 12mo.