Leray, Francis Xavier, Coadjutor of New Orleans, Natchitoches, Louisiana, to Cardinal John Simeoni, Rome, Italy, 1880 February 28

Upon his arrival at New Orleans on December 5, 1879 he found himself in the midst of a shipwreck. The diocesan corporation was in fact bankrupt; for several months it had been under legal attack; eleven houses belonging to the diocese had been seized and sold; and all the money it had in the bank had been seized but did not even satisfy the first judgment. Since then the judgments against Archbishop Napoleon Joseph Perché have multiplied and everyday he expects the seizure and sale of the churches. To meet the needs of the moment they need $200,000 and there is in the treasury only $1,400. The finances in France are no better. Jules de Boursetty, in reply to certain questions, has written that the debt in France is 1,100,000 francs and that he is holding 90,000 francs for the diocese. The greater part of the two European loans has remained in France rather than being used to reduce the interest due at New Orleans. The books show only 475,000 francs as being received from the loans. According to Boursetty the diocese owes 1,100,000. That would be a loss of 600,000 francs. Part of the 600,000 has been used to pay the interest in France. The surplus has been taken by Perché and they know absolutely nothing about what has been done with it. The total interest on the debt is more than 150,000 francs; the revenues are not quite 100,000 and 40,000 of these allocated to the archbishop's residence and the diocesan seminary. Thus, after paying taxes and expenses there remains almost nothing to pay the interest. The unanimous decision of those he has consulted at that the corporation ought to be liquidated legally. This would place an end to the interest, and would allow them to eliminate unjust debts and pay honest debts in time. Even more, it would place and end to that unfortunate corporation which he considers to be a violent, revolutionary society, opposed to all ecclesiastical rights. In the debacle three members have resigned. They were replaced by Father Gilbert Raymond, a man who spoils everything he touches, by priests of such a violent character that Leray's presence at their meetings has been rendered impossible. The first thing they did after learning of Leray's nomination was to issue a circular limiting the rights of the bishop. Then, they wanted to remove Perché from the presidency. Finally, they opposed Leray's order that the Christmas collection and the jus cathedraticum be paid directly to him. Under the inspiration of Father John B. Bogaerts Bogarty they passed various resolutions and ordered Leray to reply in two days. Since then the rupture has been complete. He wonders if he ought to force the corporation to liquidate or if he should let events carry it down. :: VI-3-b A.L.S. French 4pp. 4to.