The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-05-03
The Triennial Council of the Catholic
Church.


NJ B.
The T.ienninl Council of the Catholic
Church.
We see 1t announced that the Bishops OF the
Catholic church will assemble in regular trennlal
council, in the city of Baltimore, on next Sunday,
although no business will be entered upon before
the following day. The practice of holding such
conventions in this country, has existed for about
thirty years past; and from variety OF causes, the
most prominent and important of which is the rapid
growth and increase OF that church IN the United
States, each successive session becomes more mn
portant than any previous one. Indeed, so imper-
tant has this Ca'holc council become, that Bishops
connected with the church in the United States,
and soiourning either on business or pleasure in
foreign countries, hasten back in season TO partlcl-
pate in the proceedings. We have already corps
of reporters on the ground; and elsewhere will be
found their first report, preliminary 10 the regular
proceedings, giving brief biography of all the
bishops of the United States.
The next council will be extremely important
one and the measures which will be discussed by
it will be highly interesting TO the whole Catholic
community both clergy and laity. 1t is understood
that it is the intention of this body to erect new
archbishoprcks in the United States, and to create
several new sees.
There Is one important matter, which we hope
will be acted upon by this council, and that is, the
propriety of introducing canon law into the Ca
thoc church In the United States. From what
we have observed of the workings OF the present
system, il is essential to introduce 1t, for 1t Is
not only impolitic, but un ust, that the clergy
should longer remain deprived OF II. No such
law has ever existed in the Catholic church
In this country, because the United States
have been what is called missionary country.
An effort will be made at the approaching council
in Baltimore to give to the Catholics of this coun
try, and especial the inferior clergy, the same
rights and privilege which are enjoyed by their
brethren in other countries, not missionary. We
have witnessed the. evils which the inferior clergy
suffer under for the want such law, and have
frequently commented upon them in the columns
of this journal. In the absence Of canon law, a
Bishop is vested with power too arbitrary II be
lodged in the hands Of any human being, clerical
or lay. Without it, any Bishop of the church can,
on moments notice, and without even assigning
cause, suspend during his pleasure, any of his in
ferior clergy, and by the act, whether undeserved
or not degrade him for ever in the estimation of
the world for a suspended priest, no matter how |
innocent he may be OF the Causes or suspicious
which led to his SUSPENSION can never recover the
position which he occupied before he got under |
the ban of his Bishop. To any one, therefore, who
knows anything of the fraty and weakness of
human nature, and the fabiity of human judy
ment, il evident that the vestlng of such ire
mendous power as this in the hands Of one man, is
dangerous and unsafe in the extreme. Unless the
Bishops Of the Cathol c church in the United States
are blind to the progress of the age, and are
less Of the rights of the inferior clergy who
s,itu,e the hard working and benefit comforting
portion OF the Catholic church, they will take thus
measure in hand, and grant to the inferior clergy
the rights, benefits, and privileges of the canon
law. In the most despotc countries, the Catholic
clergy have the benefit OF that code, and is it 10 be
denied TO the people Of this free republic, where
the Catholic religion is making such extraordinary
There is another subject connected with the
Catholic church in the United States which we
think is worthy of the attention Of the Baltimore
council, and which We hope will be acted upon in
It's discussions 1t is the system Of managing
church property. As the case stands, all |
church property is under the control OF the Bishop
OF the diocese; or it the laity have any power at
all of controlling it, it is nominal, and more.
This should not be so. The Catholic church is
not composed of the clergy alone, but of both the
lalty and the clergy; and if the laty contribute |
the property OF the church, Is certainly no more
than reasonable and proper that the laty should |
have some control over it, We need not go far to
witness the discomfort in the Catholic church, |
which the absence of such right in the laty has
caused. Hence the necessity OF reform IN this par
fIcnlar department.
II these changes were carried out by the Council
of Bishops, we have no doubt that they would con-
duce, in a great degree, the prosperity of the
Catholic church in the United States That church,
in its internal arrangements, seems TO be behind
the age. While all around IT have progressed, it
which it is conducted is tnctured too much with
the spirit Of past ages. 1t needs TO b. popularized
and 10 be made 10 resemble more than II does, our
political institutions ID Is prosperous, and 1t VIII
continue TO prosper, even If those reforms be not
made; but that it would increase much more ra- |
pidiy II those necessary changes introduced, |
40 " OUT mind certain At present II numbers more
uah enc million Of COMMITMENTS and the add
uoh "hch II receives every year. by emigration
ana py natural increase cannot be less than two
hunofed thousand. This Is wonderful; and such
asaonHhing progress indicates, that a, no distant
day the Catholics Will be the most nu,norou. rail-
gious sect in the United Sites
---
SAILING OF THE STEA HIP EUROPA The s,earn
ship Europa, Captain Lott, sailed y's rday noon for
Halifax and Liverpool She took out a full ms |
aenper l,st which will q ouud uud., A.. ,,c.... !