Dwenger, Joseph, Bishop of Fort Wayne, Fort Wayn, Indiana, to Archbishop John Baptist Purcell, of Cincinnati, Ohio, 1875 January 15

Dwenger acknowledges Purcell's letter of Jan. 12, and also a letter and a copy of the decree from Cardinal Alexander Franchi. In one particular he wishes to correct the decree. He did not ask for a change, but merely reported that it was difficult for Purcell to devote care to the Sisters of Holy Cross and that they did not consult him about anything. He stated that he felt it his duty to explain the matter. He hopes that Purcell is not offended. Dwenger has read Father Henry P. Delbaere's pamphlet and thinks him a fool. Delbaere had nothing to do with the Lebel affair and what he wrote is scandalous. "Inter nos" Dwenger thinks that Bishop Caspar Borgess made a mistake afterwards in demanding that Delbaere admit that Lebel was a defaulter. It would have been better to have admitted the default without making Lebel a defaulter. Lebel undoubtedly was poisoned and his papers destroyed. Whether other priests urge Delbaere on or not Dwenger does not know, but he thinks that Delbaere should submit to his bishop and apologize. Dwenger says that everything is going as usual. He has to build a new orphan asylum and dreds it because of the hard times. :: II-5-f A.L.S. 3pp. 12mo.