Daily globe., 1883-06-15
ARCHIEPISCOPAL COUNCIL.

The Forthcoming Gathering of American
ArchbishOps at ROme-What Archbishop
Heiss Knows of its PurpOses-The Recent
Papal Circular on the Irish Troubles.
Special Telegram to the Globe
MILwAUKEE, June 14.-Archbishop Heiss
has received from the secretary of the prop
aganda at Rome lett ers notifying him of
the desire of the holy father that he should
attend conference of prelates to be held
in that city in November to take under
consideration a number of important
questions connected with the government
of the Catholic church in the United
States. To a reporter who called at the
Archiepiscopal residence to-day, his grace
said he did not know who else besides him
self had been called to Rome on this mis-
sion. The matters which will be discussed in
conference include the government and
education of Catholic clergy, the instruc-
ton of Catholic youth, the administration
of church property and the building and
directing of churches and other ecclesias-
tical institutions. Besides these matters
many others will come up for discussion
probably will be suggested during the
course of the proceedings. At the conclu-
sion of the conference its decisions will be
communicated to the various bishops of
the United States, and Will be made the
basis of action to be taken by the latter at q
plenary council composed of all of them,
which will be held in the United States
as soon after the conference as
possible. The gathering at Rome
will be merely preliminary. It will frame
no law, but only prepare matter for the
plenary council.
Speaking of the plan thus outlined by
which the pope desires to further the sys-
tematization of the ecclesiastic esta blish-
ments of the United States, his grace the
archbishop said: ut is wise, 1 think as
it will enable the propaganda to learn
directly from the bishops what is needed
in the country, while at the same time it
will instruct the bishops in regard to what
is acceptable to the holy see." In response
to questions regarding the probable
policy of the conference, his grace went
on, Every likely the conference will
counsel the contraction of fewer
debts in the erection of churches and chari-
table institutions. 1t will perhaps urge
the desirability of more uniformity in the
education of the priesthood. We have at
present large number of seminaries in
the United States, and there is very little
connection between them. AS to the mat
ter of the instruction of Catholic youth,
there may be something done looking tow
ard making provision for higher education,
but about that [ do not know. There is
no likelihood, l think, that the conference
will directly oppose American public
schools, but the church does not consider
them sufficient for Catho-
lie children on account
of their future to make provision for re-
ligious training. L myself believe public
schools are very good for disseminating
worldly knowledge. have never spoken
directly against them, but [ have had occa-
sion to speak in favor of Catholic schools,
and thus could not avoid making an indi-
rect arraignment of public schools in the
respect in which they are deficient
The archbishop was asked what he
thought of the recent circular of the pope
with reference to Irish political troubles.
He said: "It appears to me that the pur-
port of the circular has been misunder-
stood. Its intention. as I understand it,
is to keep the clergy from
being concerned in political agitation.
Rome warned them not to mix
up in the Irish agitation, because there
have been great crimes connected with it.
The prohibition had reference to the
priests only. 1t did not refer to the peo-
ple-that is, as understand it. If there |
were similar agitation here 1 would have |
a right to admonish my priests to keep
out of it. The Pope has the sameSright in
the present case. OF course his action is
a remote condemnation of agitation, but |
the condemnation is directed not at the |
political principles which are contended |
for, but at the fact that things are not 60
ing on in the right way The archbishop |
will leave Milwaukee some time early in |
October. The length of time which he |
will remain away will depend largely on |
the length of the conference, and the lat
ter is indefinite.