Blanc, Bishop Anthony, New Orleans, Louisiana, to The President and Trustees of St. Louis Church, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1843 October 22

Blanc received their letter of the 16th accompanying a copy of the resolutions adopted at their meeting the same day. He was this far in his letter when he learned that his first communication to the Council as well as their reply and resolutions had just been made public by the press. He has no right to complain as it was only through delicacy that he himself put off publicity. Since the public has the first correspondence they know why the appointment of a pastor has been deferred; that it is because the Council does not think it can give the priests of this church independent use of the presbytery, possession of the registers, approbation of the tariff by the Bishop, and choice of the employees of the Church. 1. During the too short administration of the last pastor, a constraint was put on the independent use of the presbytery by having a neighbor's door opening into the narrow court of the presbytery. 2. The registers exist, not by civil law but by Church law, and belong to the parish, handed down from pastor to pastor. The pastors must produce the records at each pastoral visit of the Bishop for his approval or disapproval. For the marriage records, the pastor is also accountable to the civil authorities. The Council, in pointing out, with so little reason, the negligence with which they declare the registers are kept, does not reflect on the censure it casts on the administration of the two venerable priests who had for more than 50 years, the sole responsibility for these registers. The fact that there has never been a serious complaint up to now proves they have been exact. 3. The tariff is the order established in all Catholic dioceses. In Article 16 of the Charter, Blanc sees nothing of the formation of a tariff. On the third Monday of each January the council is to meet to pass on the budget for the year; the tariff serves as the basis. This explanation should dispel the impression in the mind of the public that Blanc wishes to interfere in the temporal affairs of the Church. 4. Blanc demands for the pastor, the choice and control of church officials from altar boys to organist. Who can better judge these employees? If the council wishes to say that because they pay the salaries they also have the right of choice; it would probably follow that they also had the right to choose the pastor. He warns the council that on this point, to the right bishops have to appoint pastors and other ecclesiastics, Blanc can today add particular instructions sent him from Rome. He invites the Council to come to see the Apostolic Brief which His Holiness has sent to regulate his conduct. :: V-4-o A. Draft S. French 5pp. 4to.