Labatut, Isidore, Dieu Augustin, and A.J. Guirot, New Orleans, Louisiana, to Bishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1844 August 21

Blanc's letter of August 3 with the postscript of the 17th has been received. They wish first to reply to the one of July 26. In their letter of July 30, they wanted to know the nature of the reservations of which Blanc spoke in his July 26th letter. They regret that the steps they took were far from what he said he had a right to expect. They did not imagine that so just a proposal would be rejected, especially after reading in the Propagateur Catholique of July 22 that the "decision is important and all friends of order and religious liberty should rejoice." This opinion made the trustees of St. Louis Church hope that their request would be favorably received. The cause of disagreement with the trustees came solely from the appointment of Father Stephen Rousselon as pastor. The Supreme Court declared that the trustees have the powers to administer the temporal affairs, to provide for the salary of a pastor, and even to withhold it. In his letter of July 26 Blanc declares some arrangements of the church charter to be unconstitutional. The charter dates from 1816. For 28 years Blanc's predecessors found nothing contrary in it and for 9 years up to now Blanc recognized its authority. On October 22, 1843 Blanc wrote that he was sure they could find a way to reconcile the obedience they owe to the Church with the respect due their charter. 1. They have no objection to the Bishop appointing the necessary clergy but they reserve the right to reject an appointed pastor whose presence might cause trouble. 2. The fabrique will keep the registers in its possession; the Bishop and pastor will have access to them at all times. 3. They agree that the pastor is to have full possession of the presbytery as Father Louis Moni did. 4. Blanc stated that the salary of the pastor once fixed by the trustees and approved by the Bishop, could not be changed without the Bishop's consent. This is against the charter. They have Blanc's letter of October 20, 1842 in which certain members of the clergy stated the conditions under which they would remain at the Cathedral. One of the conditions was that the trustees have no control over the appointment of the priests but content themselves with fixing their salary according to their charter. A letter of January 17, 1842 addressed by the Bishop to the trustees stated that it "seems a favorable occasion to inform you of a document I have received form Rome, etc." On October 22, 1843, the bishop wrote that he was examining Article 16 of the charter. 5. The trustees cite what the Supreme Court said in a case of the congregation of the Church of St. Francis of Pointe Coupé versus Father Jean Martin : That the trustees cannot be controlled by the clergy in their administration; their authority is only spiritual. 6. The trustees agree that each priest will receive the portion of the fees as assigned by the schedule of charges. 7. The salary of the employees of the church will be determined by the trustees in agreement with the pastor, who is a member of the council. 8. The pastor is to choose the employees with the consent of the trustees. 9. About church burial services, they wish to adopt Article 7 of a letter of October 19, 1842 addressed to the Bishop by the priests of the Cathedral: For all burials they are to come to the pastor and then to the agent of the trustees. 10. They agree that the trustees are not to permit, in the church or cemetery, any action contrary to Catholic discipline. If these modifications are accepted, the interior of the Cathedral and the presbytery will be repaired in a fitting manner. :: V-5-b A.L.S. French 7pp. folio