The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-05-14
4 RoMAN CATHOLIC REFORMKR.
why he Asks that Title TO Church Property
be Vested in Laymen.

q change in tho present law as to place the
church property in the hands Of tho lalty He
assured me that the Bishops were Of the opin-
ion that they could not have that full and free
exercise Of their rightful spiritual authority
without the possession OF the temporalities
also; that rs tho sacraments and public wor
ship were ordinarily held and administered
in the church edince. tho clergy must have
as free and perfect control OF tho property
as they had over the sacraments. for otherwise
some recalctrant body Of trustees might bar
the doors against tho priest and prevent his
administrations; that as 1t was clearly by the
spiritual power Of the Bishop that priests were
ordained and sent. 30 also he must have the
temporal power to make his reception efflca-
cious or potent among the people to whom he
was sent And this could not be done without
the lawful ownership OF the church property.
Then as further. though minor considera-
tion, he was OF the opinion that the repair and
order Of the church property. the furniture and
its proper adaptation and arrangement. could
not be maintained without the absolute control
OF the officiating priest. under the authority OF
the Bishop. Indeed. he seemed to be OF the opin-
ion that the very existence Of the church prop
erty. and its preservation for the uses for which
ithad been dedicated. depended upon its'owner-
ship by the ecclesiastical order Tho aity. he
tllOubhl, WOulu ~ WIFI WOTlSuRBS,
fall into litigation and turn each annual cleo
ton into q sort Of Donnybrook fair and by con-
tinued quarrels arising therefrom. the congre-
cations would become alienated from each
other and from the Church itself.
A sad picture, indeed. and 1t might be true II
the people we're uncivilized savages or heather
inndes. But such is not the character of the
Roman Catholic people OF this State or coun-
try. They are an industrious and order-loving
people. and as the church property is paid for
by their laborious Industry and great self
denial. they know far better what it costs than
he who has spent his life in cloisters or in sem
inarles Of learning.
As to the reception OF the priest sent by the
Bishop to administer the sacramcnts and in
struct the people. 1 would with all humility re-
mind the reverend and right reverend fathers
that 1t Is not the church property which is the
subject OF sacraments. nor does the divine
mission OF the priest extend to houses and
lands. 1t has nothing to do with gold and sill
yer. wherewith unstable souls are lured to ruin.
His mission is to the people. who are the sub
jects Of his instructions and the sacraments.
1t is the priests right to live from the altar but
IL is no part OF his duty to be at the cost Of
erecting the altar or tho house to cover it.
These are to be supplied by the people and at
their cost 1t is by Divine authority that in all
spiritual things the people are. to be subject to
the Bishop. Under God his authority is abso-
Lutte and may not be contradicted or disre-
garded: but 1t does not extend to temporals.
The priest may watch for the souls OF the
people. for he has to give an account to God
for them; but he has no authority to watch the
pockets Of the people. nor has he any right to
the title deeds of property bought sby the peo-
pie. whether it be churches or affairs, parson-
M or AZ iaIfr oil thnca ba boc 70
render no account. And just so far as he as
sumes control of these he weakens or loses his
control in spiritual things.
The true meat from heaven which the Divine
Master promised to His people. and which the
priest is to administer. does not consist in
loaves and fishes. Churches and church prop
erty are simply matters OF convenience and
temporary utility. and. like all other property.
to be administered by the laws Of prudence
and social economy. Whether the Bishop or
the people shall hold the title is simply ques-
ton OF expediency. and has never been made q
subject OF divine or ecclesiastical law. 1t has
always been left for regulation by the laws Of
the country or civil government. As matter
then. Of expediency and worldly prudence shall
the vast amount Of church property in this
State. accumulated and likely to accumulate
be left in the hands and under the sole control
Of the Bishop. or shall the laity of the Church
have voice in its title and administration
In the solution OF this question We have the
experience OF many ages under the most di-
verse forms Of secular government. l think
1t can be safely stated that it has been the eX-
pcrencc of all ages since the Christian era that
when great wealth whether oflands or church
es. gold or silver. jewels. or other rich orna-
mcntS. has been accommodated in the
the Is eupi%ity '" Of secular soycrnment and
of their maadministration. Whether this
plea has been we'll founded need not now con-
pie have believed the accusation Just else the
conilscations could not have taken place. The
secular , power as well as the people have be
clerical hands has been the great and principal
source Of the corruption of their order. What
could have taken place either in Germany or
Engl land had the church property been in the
hands of laymen, who had been elected or had
like Henry VIII. or the Lnndgrave of lIesse
can do much. but neither they, nor could any
OF their dominions unless the other two-thirds
were in sympathy with them.
1t is true, as the Vicar-Genera above referred
TO says. that II the property of the Church were
In the hands of the laityand under their control
some ovil-disposed set of trustees might lock
the doors Of the church against. some good and
worthy priest whom they feared might reprove
their wrong doing: but would add and with
all Difference say, that good congregation. by
the action OF their trustees could ais lock the
doors OF the church against some drunken and
Stmoniacal priest who had deceived his Bishop
grief to all Catholics to be obliged TO admit that
there are such priests and il is n great wonder
to most laymCn why II is that when tho real
characters of these men are so well known To
| them the Bishops do not find them ont. and
bid them go West" However earnestly the
Bishop may desire such priest to watch for
the good of souls and the wei fare of the people,
tho priest himself knows that when once in
possession Of the church property. as the law
| now stands he is three hiths of the number Of
the trustees. and that ii the other two-ilths do
not vote az he wishes he can depose them and
| appoint others who will. Then he appoints
| himself treasurer bookkccper. and Il committee
of ono 10 audit NIL accounts. He can make
such return TO the Bishop MS he pleascs and II
| he has absorbed for his own private use the
whole revenues OF the Church. however large
| they may be. there is not u witness who can
| appear against him. He can deceive the Bishop
and defy the people, If any of the people be-
| come curious, md want to know what has be-
| paid into tho funds, the courts have decided
| that, AS the law now stands. ii is an iuperii J.
| nent curiosity. which the Bishop may withhold
| or grant, according to his pleasure Whatever
waste or, maladminstratlon the people may
see, and know, they have no redress, because
| have had the pleasure and the honor OF the ne
| quaintance Of the Bishop OF Brooklyn know
| him To- be q good and holy man, who has tho
| good of souls and tho honor OF God deeply Mt