Background
Anthony Kohlmann was born on July 13, 1771 in Kaiserberg, Alsace, France.
(Excerpt from Unitarianism Philosophically and Theological...)
Excerpt from Unitarianism Philosophically and Theologically Examined, Vol. 2: In a Series of Periodical Numbers; Comprising a Complete Refutation of the Leading Principles of the Unitarian System On the solemnity Of the birth of Christ, commonly called Christmas, in which the holy Doctor explains the mystery Ofthe two natures in Christ. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
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Anthony Kohlmann was born on July 13, 1771 in Kaiserberg, Alsace, France.
Kohlmann believed that the priesthood was his vocation, and with this in mind he began his preliminary studies at his native place. He matriculated at the university and after finishing his theological studies was ordained in 1796.
Attracted to community life, he became a member successively of two communities that were patterned somewhat after that of the Jesuits. For a time he ministered to the sick at Hagenbrunn, Austria, during a plague, then he spent two years in the military hospital at Pavia. Finally, taking up the work that appealed to him most, he taught theology at various places in Europe.
In 1803 he entered the Society of Jesus. In 1808 he was appointed by Archbishop Carroll administrator of the Diocese of New York and with Benedict Joseph Fenwick took charge of St. Peter's Church. He held the post of administrator until 1814. New York at this time had a Catholic population of about 14, 000. Among these were some French and Germans. Kohlmann's fluency in languages made his ministry to these people more effective. The material assets of the New York diocese consisted of one church building, one school, and a cemetery.
During Kohlmann's administration St. Patrick's pro-Cathedral was planned, a school for boys was started, and an academy for girls provided. His stay in New York was made memorable through a court decision rendered upon the subject of the seal of confessional. Through his offices as confessor, he was able to restore certain stolen goods to their rightful owner. The owner, however, insisted that the names of the guilty be divulged and brought suit to this end. The district attorney tried to solve the difficulty by a declaration of nolle prosequi. The board of trustees of St. Peter's Church insisted upon a court decision. This was rendered in favor of the clergyman and was later written into the law of the state, being made part of the revised statutes of 1828. Kohlmann looked upon the case as an opportunity to explain the Catholic position in the matter of the Sacrament of Penance, and upon it he wrote a brief treatise which attracted considerable notice at the time. Kohlmann returned to Georgetown in 1815 where he served his society as master of novices.
From 1818 to 1820 he was president of Georgetown College. With the restoration of the Jesuit University, the Gregoriana, in Rome, he was called to occupy the chair of theology.
He left America in 1824, spending his last years in teaching. Among his pupils, many of whom rose to high offices in the church, was Joachim Pecci, who became Pope Leo XIII. His publications were controversial and occasional. Unitarianism Philosophically and Theologically Examined, which appeared first as a series of thirteen pamphlets, was published in 1821 in book form. It called forth considerable comment as it was directed against the views of certain influential Unitarian ministers, including Jared Sparks. J. M. Finotti in his Bibliographia Catholica Americana (1872) attributes to Kohlmann The Blessed Reformation, Martin Luther, Portrayed by Himself (Philadelphia, 1918), although it was published under the name of John Beschter. It is regrettable that the variety of Kohlmann's activities obscure somewhat the greatness of his administrative gifts. His services were of the utmost value to the Church during these critical years, both at Georgetown and in New York.
(Excerpt from Unitarianism Philosophically and Theological...)