The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-11-06

QuettOne TO te antwertd ~ coming cleo
tion--they involve great in ere. t. aud impose
great obligations ston the wen disposed people
OF New York. We wait for reply.
THE CATHOLIC HIERARCHY IN THE UNITED
SgATEs-THEm RECENT AoyExzNTs.-Conci-
dent wi b the Know Nothing excitement, we
have stem two Catholic Provincial Councils
cailed-one 1t New York, he other at Balti-
more-and qukk upon their close the two Arch
bishops, accompanied by several other preiates
and priests, have hurried off to Rome. The
public canuot help surnisiag that these move
ments have some reference to the attacks that
OF late have been made or threatened against
the property, and even the existence, Of the
Catholic church in this country. What is it?
Do the Catholic hierarchy really fear that they
are about to suffer any check to the extension
or to the influence Of their order in the United
| States Do they see in these excuses the fore
runners Of q coming reversal ofpublic opinion,
which is to be as decidedly In their favor - it
has lately been loud against their pretensions?
| Are they, n either case, with the far-sighted
ssgacity that has always characterized the
Roman prelates and their church, about to put
their vessel on another tack, and to INACCURATE
a changed method Of dealing with the public !?
To the uninitiated something of this kind seems
SO probable as to pars almost for proved. And
yet it is confidently asserted by those who may
be supposed to know, that nothing Of this kind
has occupied the councils of the church during
their recent convocations.
T. 4 Al~k L. H. L.,
Rome, with the Bishops and theologians accom-
panying them, only at the request of the Pope,
who desired their presence either to deliberate
about some mysterious article Of doctrine or
| faith, or to add pomp and circumstance to
theological decision about to be propounded to
the Catholic world. 1t is equally asserted that
the late councils were called merely in conse-
quence OF the new division Of provinces made
few years ago, and to settle points of local &C.
clesiastical discipline. So far as the DEGREES
of the late council in this city are nm index of
the discussions that occupied its sessions, they
confirm these assertions. These DEGREES we're
read aloud in Latin at the close Of the council,
in presence Of the congregation, and they con-
tanned nothing Of the least interest to any ex-
cept Catholics, and scarcely to any except
members of the priesthood. The substance of
these DEGREES is as follows
l. profession Of fealy and devotion to the Holy See
Of Rome.
2 general adoption and enforcement of the DEGREES
of the last penary council held in Baltimore.
8. Requiring priests to consult their Bishops before
altering rebuilding their church ediccs.
4. Settling the question Of jurisdiction for priests
whose missionary fields lie on the boundaries of two diff
s. Ordering that presbyteres, or priests houses,
should be built close by their churches.
6. Repeating and enforcing the decree Of the council
of Baltimore, for the erecting, wherever 1t Is possible
Catholic parish schools and instructng in Catholic doc
trine children who cannot attend Catholic schools.
Such were the DEGREES of the council, as pub
licly proclaimed and sent to Rome for the
approval of Plus IL. and his cardinals. But
it appears by the pastoral letter which has
been published, and which was read in all the
Catholic churches yesterday, that other sub
ects besides those embraced in the DEGREES as
read to the public, did occupy the attention Of
the council. The subject of newspapers claim
ing to be organs Of Catholics, or orgaps of Irish
Catholics, whether secular or religious, has
been under the hands Of the council. The re-
suit is that all organs Of this kind unsanctioned
by the Bishops themselves, are not simply dis
ayowed, but the clergy are called on to warn
their people against paying any attention to
them.
By this act all such papers as the Irish fine
rtean, american Cell, Citizen, and others
appealing for their support to the Irish solely
or chiefly, are condemned; and, indeed, no
paper published in these parts is considered
entitled to speak In the name Of Catholics cx-
cept the Freeman's Journal, which has hitherto
been considered as in some sense the organ and
protege Of Archbishop Hughes himself It is
understood that this paper, under some new
arrangement, which has not yet TRANSFERRED, is
about to be clothed.with additional authority,
and to be published, not only with the appro-
baton, but with the responsibility, Of the
Catholic authorities.
All this is calculated to suggest curious re-
Elections, and shows that more was treated In
the council than appeared in the DEGREES, aud
that the visit Of 30 many prelates to Rome may
not be altogether on account Of the doctrinal |
question that is to be determined for the |
whole world, but may have in view some new
method of action for the United States In par
ticular, rendering 1t expedient that the express
sions Of Catholic thought and purpose, through |
the press should be in hands true and skiiful |
enough to give them the direction intended.
What theeemay be time alone will develope;
and we are to look for their deve. opement, we |
suppose, chiefly through their newly digaiaed |
organ, the FTeeman's Joun
MODERN PATRIOTISM is no country |
perhaps in which patriotic ardor is more fer
vently displayed than " in the bright particular
spot" in which our lot is cast. The eagerness !
to eerve the fatherland manifested on the ap-
proach of every election, evinces selfsacrifc-
ng disinterestedness which is as admirable az !
it Ia affecting to behold. There is no end OF
modern Curtiuses ready to jump into yawning !
- IL A