Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-02-21
church Property Tenure.

A bill is before the Legislature of New YORK
for The purpose of securing to the lay the posses
sion of all church property. Many years ago an
Act was passed resting the title 10 such property
in Trustees elected by the church, congregation,
or society using the same for purposes of religious
worship, but the Roman Catholic Bishops have
resorted to every means to evade the law, and
constitute themselves the exclusive propre'ors.-
As early as 1925, il was discovered by the Pre-
la,es that the system Of committing church tenn
poralites to the laity. led to degree of indepen-
dence on the part of the people towards the priest
hood and on the partoi the presihood towards their
Bishops not in keeping with the principles OF
the Catholic Hierarchy A plan to meet this
difficulty was devised in 1920, when the Coun
Gil of Bishops, at Baltimore, passed an ordinance
on tho subject. This movement did not have the
desired e1sct, and in lo49 The Provincial Conn
Gil ordained that all churches sc belong to the
Bishop of the diocese, thus actually cOnfiscaling
the property. The present Pope confirmed this
act. and Catholics are required to acquiesce in 1t
under the penalty Of communication.
The New York Journal Of Commerce. "a
per by the way, with anii-Know Nothing ten
dencies-commence an article on the subject !,
from which we have obtained the above facts, as
follows:
We alluded some weeks ago, to the very hum
HE prosration of the Father provincial of the JeS
uits at Naples, before the King of the Two Sicil
lies. and his solemn assurance that the principles
| of that body have ever been perfectly in cnrtor
mity with ihuse of absolute monarchy. The a.
! bly of the Jesuit fathers is undoubted, whaiev-
er reputation they may deserve IN other respects!
! In like manner. the ablest talent of the Roman
| Catholic persuasion in America has been employ
ed TO demonstrate the entire conformity of democ-
racy with The claims Of their hierarchy; and APP
meals have been made, within fortnight. 10 The
| people of the United States to becume WITNESSES
! 10 the freedom loving. law abiding, aud union
rherishing spirit of every member al Inc denoIni-
n ltun that acknowledges the al OUT snp'e Macy
spiritual and temporal, OF Pope rus Ia. "A sui
| fcent reply 10 every assertion tial can ne maze
by Archbishop Hughes, DR.. Oresles a. br wnsoh'
| JOHN Baptist Purcell. and such other Ii 'hanisl
controvprsialiss as may endeaVor " ,hr"w uus'
into the eyes Of The people VII, regard 10 the SIN
ceriy o. their allegiance to fepnoicah'Sn'' Is
that for over twenty-five years lhey nave comm
ualy, knowingly and wiifnly sought to violate
laws of this and other STATES which c"nsti'u'ethe
foundation of their equal privileges; that they
have finally determined in solemn council 10 e.
wade and despse th,,se laws and that in so de-
ing. they have demanded and received the sane
ton OF their superiors al Rome, together WIN pow
er to pronounce communication and analhena
upon every law loving Roman Caln"lic VINO
should oppose their aggressl"ns. o'r MS. 1'a'e
! Constitution and the subsequent ACT of ilc4' 10
gelher with these that have since inoaifFo ~
have been. in fact, made dead letter py me eva
suns of the Roman Episcopate, aided by the con-
nivance Of corrupt politicians.
Congressional Globe.