The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-10-06
THE RECENT PLENARY COUNCIL.

l
Noticeable Enlargement of the Scope Of
Clerical aud Lay Ed ucation in America.
| Baltimore Special
The American will publish to morrow special
letter from Rome having reference to the con-
! frmatlon and effect of the DEGREES passed by the
plenary council OF Baltimore. The writer says
| that their influence will be felt throughout
America, and to beneficial purpose. A canon
which took its origin in medieval times and
was rounded on and constituted for civilization
that mas almost passed away, is cut into by the
| DEGREES. They will constitute a law suitable for
the tlIne. Ihe education of the clergy will be
| elevated to the wants of the time. The Chris
tan civilization of the people will be made to
| keep pace with the material civilization of the
time Christianity will be brough into harmony
with the education and civilization of the present
| age. Regulations have been made for the estab-
| llShment or schools for children normal schools
for teachers, and university for priests and for
| those iaymen who devote themselves TO the pur-
| suits OF higher knowledge. It is not by ''ben-
ehces,~ that great feature of the middle ages by
which, While education was assisted. it was. also
| hampered. that these results are to be obtained
| 'Benehces0 will not be brought in as a means of
| support The Catholic Church in the United
States wants subsidy from the state and
| thus 1t will not become servant, or rather a
slave, or the state, it has so often been in
| european countries, such as France and Austria.
| The church in America prefers co depend for her
support upon the tree offerings of the people.
In the new dioceses it is provided that no such
| thing as parishes and parish priests,
in the old canonicaI sense Of the
term. will exist in the United States.
| These were founded on 'benefces" but there
| they will not be employed. This, however, does
| not Indicate that pastors who have created and
| fostered a congregation, and made the desert to
! blossom as rose, will be harshly treated or re-
| moved from the places they have built up.
| There Will not be an absolute removability of
| pastors A certain percentage of them will be
| declared lmmovable, and this holds good except
| IN cases where faults are ascribed to the pastor
and these faults and their consequences will be
| determined by trial. A certain amount of
| liberty OF action is required in the United States
| both by bishops and clergy and it is not advisa
| BILE to remove or curtail that liberty. The dig
| nifty and authority will be increased and brought
| more prominently into relief. They will have
| their courts over those of bishops in which an
peals will be received before such appeals can be
| sent to Rome. In future bishops will have a
| permanent board or council, which they will as
sembe at certain intervals during the year.
Ihey VIII! also give some voice to the clergy In
| the selection of bishops
| Another important decision of the Baltimore
| council refers to societies or associations. A
| stop is about to be put to indiscriminate, in
judiclous, or conflicting condemnation Of
| secret societies. Henceforward the con-
domination of any secret society will
| be reserved to permanent board
| of all the archbishops of the country, and
| all cases of such nature must be referred to
| them for their judgment and decision.
| The greatest safeguard will be thrown around
| the contraction of church debts in future.
| The sanctity of Christian marriages will be
| specially guarded by suitable and effective reg
ulation.
Much was said on the holding of ecclesiastical
property, but different laws exist in different
doceses, it was left to each bishop to adopt the
means best suited to each particular case. These
DEGREES will form the basis of the councils about
| to be held in Australia and Ireland.
| The DEGREES of the council of Baltimore we're
| brought to Rome by special messenger sent by
| Arch bishop bbons On the 1st of March they
were presented to Cardinal Simeoni project of
the Propaganda. which has charge of Catholic
missions throughout the world. From that time
until Thursday, the 10th of September when
| Pope Leo XIII signifed his approval of these
DEGREES, the attention of the Propaganda has been
| occupied almost exclusively with them The ex-
| animation of them was most minute and careful
the authorities here entering into every detail
| and expression contained in these DEGREES Three
American bishops Rt Rev. Drs. Moore, of ST.
! Augustine, Fla, Dwenger of Fort Wayne and
| Gimour, of Cleveland, went over to Rome to
support and explain these DEGREES before the
Propaganda, and after this heightened scrutiny
| and careful examination they are now confirmed
very few changes having been made in them, so
| that they will return in almost the same condi-
ton as they were in when brought to Rome.