The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-03-23

The special government Of The ciersy . composed Of
one archbishop ~ho 3 tb~ Archbishop Of Mexico, With
can, Of Jasco, Of New Icon, Of 0Ajscs. Of Dur .ngo Of
Yucasan, Of Cnapas Of Sonora, Of Lower California OF
San Luis poosi OF Vera cuz aod OF tho College OF Our
abbot In the catnedra6 OF nne Of the above bishops
there are lS3 pretendar,es
Tho above dioceses suodvded into 222 parishes
REVENUE OF THE CLERGY.
The genera funds and destined for the support Of
the clergy and 70 maintain the public worship hrou yhOut
the republic may be c>sscd under four great divisions,
The income received by the bishops and canous who
ooustitutute the heads Of the several cathedrals.
The income which belongs 70 the private or Capel0n
s. me income Of the curaes and Wears.
The income of the different religious communities or
The OF the drst GLASS Is chiefly derived from
the taxes known under the sopeAton az tentns, or
first Tho revenue derivei from these ecoesAs
uca taxes was In former times, very considerable, mas
much as they consisted Of the tenth OF all the fruits,
grains and ayr cultural produ,ts Of The whole republic
Gated animals raised for p s i.ssrly, however,
the income derived from this source has fallen of
ever since the passage Of The .w Of October ~ 1855
not " be obligatory upon the agrcuturalist kotwth
standing ,hs law however, The income derived from this
source still very considerable, nAsmoch there
yet many persons who from motives Of conscience or
from other causes continue 70 pay tho tax In addtion
70 this tax thu C'sss Of clergy who recsSe are satlod
left for the performance a annual religious services
which are called anniversaries at which time me annual
rents Of the said monies paid The bishops Sonora
Lower California Of New Leon Of Chispas aud OF Yucca
tan also receive annually from the government sum
which, in the total amounts to $50 The collegiate
body OF Our Lacy OF Guadalupe has besides, the prv1
lege and profits OF twenty ave lotteries each OF which
lotteries produces annually the Of $i3 o0o rhe
cccle sastcal body also q considerable amount Of
real estate, and receives annually fro the govern
m.pt, by way Of GIFT capital Of 1921 800.
TIE Private or Cspellsn e,ceeiastcs supported by
nj nj charo
made for this purpose by several pous persona They
consst oomm,nly in capital sum u IS 900, imposed ~
Capelian priests receive these rents the aims
which the faithful give for such or such number Of
masses TO be performed 10 toe objects OF oe devotion
The income OF the cures is derived from tho
parochial or priests dues, which are paid in
The various parishes for bsptsms, marriages and
Responses. masses and religious services whsch the
frhiu pay TO have performed In the vsrious churches
Lastly this class o. ecceeAstcs derive their income from
the pros they obtain by the sale Of novenas Of medals
Of scspuayies Of holy helps and other which
they sell 70 their parishiopers
The Of the religious converts besides the AIMS
and gifts gathered at at religious services, and at
the burisls which are made In their churches, derived
from the rents and produce Of the real estate which they
own The converts OF nuns are siso supported by the
rents of the large landed property which has con-
tinuay increasing in the A-e of years From this cate
CORY be excepted few converts which possess no
anced property and are supported by the charity Of va
rious ptous perrons
In addition the Incomes and sources Of income which
The persons OF the clergy there in the several caihc
dras and parishes other Of income TO the clergy
which consist in lands en6owmobts made mset
expenses of what called Faorca" which tiRnih the
uac,ue preparation Of all tboee articles which
Dece,ssry for the performance ,f public worship.
Although 1t IL impossible ~ determine exactly the
smouDt In value OF the property and revenue OF the
clergy account o.! the secresy which Ia generally OBJ
served by the clergy in the OF taer
ty, we may be able TO form APPROXIMATION - the
true amount. This may be done by taking as the
basis OF calculation al the data which are open 10 tho
public such toe value OF the products o. arcu
ture the annual plumber OF oithe deaths and marriages
In the republic and lastly the devout pu,lc services and
exercises winch arc still deep rooted cuss With tue
greater part OF the people By carefully examining ali
these data may be assured without fear OF any aer
Gus error that the total Of the money gathered by
the clergy the people, through 1hoe extent
the republic, in the shape OF money paid for nths FOR
parochal dues aims for for religious services,
and by the SALE Of articles Of devo.ion-thc OF all
amounts 1t the lowest cacuation 70 more than six or
eight millions Of dollars annually.
"A respects the properly belonging 70 come OF the
clergy, writer's have pretended to determine "
amount being half Of all the real OF the
try
Others have estimated one third without entering
into an examination OF the greater leas OF
these cacnai,ons certain that the total amount OF
the property Of the clergy vt the prescn: day,
from all sources, In spite Of the dim.auon which they
pretend has suffered within few years, exceeds the
sum OF two hundred AMI oy three hundred millions Of
dollars. In the city OF Mexico alone where s 600
houses churches and public buildings cannot be esa Cd
a. less than $50 moro than tho half OF al those
Tho rents OF all their landef property, joined TO the
tcnths 70 the parochia fees &C will beyond all
doubt TO the sum Of 900, which, under various
titles and prctexts gathered annually ty the clergy
from the people Of the republic.