The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-06-18
4 noMAN CATHOLIC REroRMER
why sho Lsity should Have n Voice in the
Management OF Church Property.

which seem to have an inseparable connection
with the present law In regard to the tenure
by which Catholic church property Is nowtheld ;
that It has all the evils without any OF the bene-
fits Of a corporation sole that while those by
whose labor the property is gained. and for
whose benefit 1t is supposed to exist. seem to
have voice In its control. yet in fact they have
no power to prevent Its waste or abuse. nor
from being used even as a potent weapon for
their oppression and wrong. The Bishop. tho
Vicar General. the pastor. and two laymen APP
pointed by the pastor are. as the law now
stands. made the trustees. The Bishop ap-
points and removes when he will the
vicar and the pastor. and can compel
thelatter to appoint and remove such laymen
as he shall dictate. Thus the Bishop has sole
power to sell. transfer. or mortgage. tear down
or build up any or all the churches. school
houses. parsonages or other buildings erected
by the people for their own use and the inter-
ests OF religion. II was this power 30 vested by
the present law In the hands OF the Bishop OF
Albany that enabled him to tear up the very
foundations Of your old parish church and
place mortgage OF tens Of thousands OF dol
lars upon the new one. This same law enabled
him to place another mortage Of thousands
upon your school house. which twice before
you had relieved from debt He need.not as he
whether they or the people were willing or were
able to incur all these heavy expenditures. He
incurred the debt. and the laity Of the church
had to pay II or allow the property to be sold.
1t Is no excuse or justification Of the law to
say that the Rishop who did this had by his
habits Of life rendered himself incapable OF the
exercise OF sound judgment. and therefore
formed an exceptional case. 1t is rather an
additional reason why the law should be SO
changed as to put 1t out Of the power OF any
one man to 80 abuse sacred trust Any other
Bishop is liable to the same infrmty, II. in
Decd 1t can be called an infirmity to abuse the
natural powers Of the mind by the excessive
use Of stimulants. In the case Of the good
Bishop of Cincinnati there was no such abuse.
1t was simply want OF financial ability.
But the evils wrought to church property do
law should be amended, The effects 1t has
upon the lives and habits Of the clsrgy may
made whether their education and their early
training 1T them for the successful manage
ment OF financial affairs2
It is a matter OF honorable pride in the hearts
Of all Catholics that their mother, the Church.
is no respecter Of persons. Kings and En-
her laws Her courts t and her Ronors are alike
her mitres have been worn by the sons of swine:
monsrchs and MOBILES. Her mission is to ele-
vate humanity and to promote q common broth
sciSn. held no precedence over Peter and Bar
th9|lomew, ne fishermen; This law has been S,p
disnitaries Of her affairs have been great BY
q their birth. He who was raised
throne Of St. Peter welded the same power
and with the same confident ,boldness as he
or the Tudors. Merit is the only virtue sought
or valued, As in the past. so in our time the
priesthood are called from all ranks OF society
| and walks of life. Mere worldly pOSitiOl has
no influence. The priest who finds in his par
ish school boy Of devotional habits and an
IGNITION and md car care OF the Bishop. Neither the
position of life nor the poverty or wealth of the
lis receP{iqn H Or rejsstiop + apProyed by the
Bishop, he is placed in higher school. Thence.
wholly separate him from the world and all Of
| its business alta rs. From eight to twelve
he is sss Tt any the s
family and friends. When at last at the age Of
he is as,ignorant Of business affairs when
at twelve. he began his Latin grammar; II he
but it has Justly formed no part Of his edpca-
ton ton compel him to renounce the world. He
may not. like other men; enter into Its contests
fs LIB FOR 4 the a FAMILIES hs
of the world. He may not form any family ties,
but he must give himself wholly, body and soul.
|
glory Of God. Besides his ministrations for the
pain Of sin perform certain daily stipulated
| private devotions OF reading. meditation, and
prayer with sell ,e 3,,I and make his
show to the people that beatitude In a future
life is the main employment of this.
Can II be expected that man thus brought
up and educated and thus employed can have
| that knowledge OF affairs as to fit him for the
| plnppI n IN
bargain with builders and contractors. deal
il it is done at double the cost to the people to
what it might be performed by a layman who
best Intention on the part Of the priest so edu-
Gated there must be great waste OF property,
whSh Hwnys The cost Of aS %y they
pctence to make bargains and his general ig-
noranee of affairs. once saw where, the whole
ground floor of sixty thousand liar church
because the priest who suit it did not not know NOW
bers laid near the ground The people. Of
course had to pay the price OF his ignorance;
ON %h srf a e tho tS S S
sarS q all the temEoraties Of the Church. IN
addition to his spiritual caresp
oils fresh upon him, devout and exemplary
once be plunged into all OF the intricacIcs OF
business affairs, He makes mistakes and he
| lcclS NeNru. Otncr mistakes follow, and his
veNation is turned TO anger. both at himself
and toward the one whom he deems the cause
of his error, He thinks the men with whom he
deals have combined to wrong him and the
Church. He calls upon tho people to make VI
the loss. They are backward to respond tc
these repeated demands for money that goes
from his own spiritual life and the spirit Of
| his vocation is weakened. His ordinary
duties become n labor and are performed with
| negligence or in perfunctory manner. Year NJ
year the strain continues and year after yea
see1 himself poor, but he can be IGsi. Tho
means are in his hands. Heretofore he has no
demanded money for the sacramcnts; he has
only taken such sums ms the people chose Il
give. He therefore publishes from the altar
that hereafter, whena child is brought for hap
tism, or n marriage is to be celebrated or
high or low mass Is to be said, n certain sum o
money is 70 he brought. or he will rcceiv,
nothing. This will bc his course II the natura
bent Of his mind is toward covetousness. II
however, his natural disposition is to u kline
Incidence and free living he will take To the eX
cesSivr use Of stimulants especially il he is no
fond Of study.
But oven ii he avoids these rocks. which hay,
wrecked the lives OF SO many of the priests o