Ot1r Catlzolic Heritage in T e:xas
railier a dh·ine instinct that grew from their baptism than a faith of knowledge."" Se£Uin and KaYarro testified to Timon that for years there had been ::, no instruction imparted, no confessions heard, no Communions given, and no comforts of religion for even the dying in making their last peace with God. They readily agreed to sign sworn affidavits detailing the neglect and laxity of the only two clerics, Refugio de la Garza and Jose Antonio Valdez. No wonder Timon was shocked, as have been his readers ever since. It is well to keep in mind, however, that Refugio de la Garza had been more interested in politics than in matters spiritual since the early twenties. He had been made parish priest without soliciting the position and had not been removed by the new Bishop of Nuevo Leon in 1834. He had been a delegate to the State Legislature and to the national Congress, and had acquired considerable property in San Antonio. All this made him a political enemy and a social rival of the Seguins and the Navarros, who did not hesitate to paint in bold relief the indefensi- ble weaknesses of an unworthy character. Valdez was in a similar posi- tion. There is no doubt that their personal lives were sinful and that they were unfit to continue as ministers of the Church, but the picture of their derelictions has been painted in darker and more somber colors perhaps than the facts warrant, and unfortunately reflect on the char- acter of the Spanish and Mexican clergy of Texas as a whole, and on the pioneer Spanish and Mexican Catholics of Texas for tolerating such conditions. Guilty as they were, the accused men were not given a hear- ing or an opportunity to present any kind of defense. Timon condemned them forthwith and solicited their removal and deprivation of Faculties on the evidence of prejudiced witnesses. When confronted with the order of Canonical deposition, the two clerics meekly obeyed the Holy See. To return, however, to San Fernando church. Timon found that the parish was by no means lacking the necessary resources for reorganiza- tion. The parish owned revenue-producing property, good farm lands and valuable city lots, which were in the hands of a board of trustees. Of greater significance than has been heretofore thought is the sug- gestion made by Seguin and Navarro to ~ecure state aid for establishing a preparatory school and a college of liberal arts and sciences in San "B d ,,, cit 59. This document remains unpublished in spite f i . ayar , Or· ·• 1 · d b C o ts 1m- I t s extensively but inaccurate y use y harles G. Deuth . portance. . wa R Jolin Timon. er m his lif, and T,mu of Rt. 411 '
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