O'Connor, Father Charles P., Overbrook, Pennsylvania, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1873 May 10

O'Connor has just returned from the consecration of Bishop Michael A. Corrigan and has received Purcell's letter. The Doctor is writing a reply now. O'Connor is of the opinion that a layman does not incur excommunication by citing a bishop before the Civil Court if the case be not strictly on ecclesiastical rights. This opinion he bases on a decree of the Propaganda which is quoted in Kenrick's Moral Theology, De Censuris, Cap. 1, no. 7, modifying the decree of the Council of Baltimore. It is certainly an offense to summon a bishop before a civil tribunal to compel payment of a debt, but if there is no other way O'Connor thinks the offense would be on the part of the bishop. He excuses his brevity because he found another letter in his mail informing him of a serious injury to his mother from a fall. The letter of the doctor and Purcell's document will be in the next mail. :: II-5-f A.L.S. 3pp. 12mo.