Roman Catholic
missionary.
He was born at Sint-Kornelis-Horebeke
and was educated at the seminary
in Ghent
. Because he resisted the bishop forced upon the diocese by Napoleon I
, he was imprisoned in the fortress of Wesel
with his brother Joseph, who did not survive.
After the fall of Napoleon's empire, de la Croix resumed his studies and was ordained in Ghent by Bishop Dubourg of Louisiana, whom he later followed to the United States
along with several other seminarians and some Flemish workmen.
"An oasis in the middle of the ocean: Office buildings, hotels, theaters and shopping centers, sitting slightly above the surface of the sea in neat rows surrounded by greenery and flowers, with canals of clear blue water, water taxis and gondolas providing transportation for the inhabitants."
"A new country that has never existed before, which will be built in a moderately tropical sea, a perfect climate, a paradise: Utopia!"
"The International University of Advanced Studies, has been founded and is dedicated to teaching the disciplines and imparting the knowledge that will be needed in the next century for survival on Earth, the colonization of the oceans, and the exploration and colonization of space. Access to classes taught by the University may be obtained over the Internet."
"New Utopia will be managed by a Board of Governors; managing what we believe to be the most perfect city/state ever conceived, blending the philosophies of both Ayn Rand and Robert Heinlein."