The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-11-05

The CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE UNITED STATES
We understand that a general convocation of
the Catholic church In the United States has been
called, and will soon be held, in, we believe, the
| city of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland. If
| our information correct, we should think that
the opening of such a convention would furnish
an excellent opportunity for devsing a remedy to
relieve the Catholic clergy of this country of the
serious inconvenience which arise from the abb
sence of hierarchy of that church, and the estab-
lishment of canon law.
AS that church at present constituted in
the United States, the bishops of the Sc.
veral dioceses are invested with powers that
are almost despotic, much to the annoy
ance, and frequently to the injury, of the SUBJ
ordinate priesthood. Under the regime at present
existing the Bishop of New York, for instance
has the power to suspend any clergyman against
whom he entertains ill-feeling, without showing
any cause. He may Issue his fiat, and no matter
how innocent the party against whom it is directed
may be, he Is suspended from his functions, and Is
degraded man. The world knows in what light
suspended p.iest Is regarded. He is looked
upon as fallen angel, and none are SO poor as to
do HIM reverence. Suppose, for instance, that the
Bishop of the Diocese of New York were a man
of a bad dispostion-one who never expected to
be in possession OF the vast power which his office
as bishop would clothe hun with suppose him to
be of an arrogant and tyranncal dIspositIon-a
man who desired f1attery, and expected to receive
4 from tine subordinate clergy, and who, If he
did not get 1t, would not hesitate to exercise
the power which is invested in him as bishop
what deplorable condition, we ask, would not
the clergy under HIM be in 2 Yet such a man
might, at some time or other, reach the Office or
bishop in some one of the States. To be sure
an appeal would lie 10 the Archbishop of the
Court of Rome; but in case of an appeal being
made, it would take long time for 1t to be heard
and decision rendered In addition to this. the
appellant would have opposed to him all the in
huence of the bishopric, and the mere fact of his
suspension might turn the scale against him for.
after ALL bishops are only men, and subject to the
feelings Of men.
Again, even were he TO succeed In his
appeal, and be restored to the exercise of his
functions, he never could reInstate himself in
the position that he held prior to his suspension
His flock would take it for granted that his bishop
would not suspend him without good cause; and
were he TO be restored by the Pope himself. he
never could regain the affections of his people nor
enjoy the confidence which he once had. Unde
these circumstances the clergymen OF the Catholic
church in the United States, are placed In an ex
tremey delicate and unpleasant situation. Les
they might incur the dispeasure of their blsbop,
they would, In great degree, be compelled to
toady to him, and be the mere serfs and slaves o,
an aristocratic master Surely, such a state off
things must detract a great deal from the indie.
pendence and usefulness Of the priesthood
This arises from the circumstance that the
United States Is only what is called missionary
country. We forget the exact number of Catho-
lies there are In the United States, although
we published it short time since; but we
know that 1t is immense, and daily augment
ing by emigration from Catholic countries-Ger-
many Ireland, Spain, &c. At all events, we are
confident that their number Is great enough to
justify the establishment or n regular hierarchy in
the country. 1t Is too bad that the priesthood
should be placed in such an awkward and unpea-
SAINT position as that which we have pictured
Under these circumstances, therefore, we hope,
for the sake OF the clergy, in whose ranks are as
pure and honest men ever drew the breath of
lhe, that hierarchy will be established ere long
In the United States, that the numerous priest
hood may be released from their thraldom, and
placed in position that will justify their acting
for the good Of the church, as their Judgments NAV
dictate, without fear of being suspended or de
graded at the option Of one man, who might be Of
| the character we have described.