Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-02-25
HoW BISHOPS ARE MADE.
And HOW They are Transferred
How bishop Kecker's Removal
was Recommended and Confirmed
by Rene.

And HOW They are Transferred
How Bishop Recker's MetnOva
was Recommended and Con tIrnne
by Rome.
The coming changes in the control O
the Roman Catholic diocese of Whining
ton continues the one topic OF imp )rtanc
to the Catholic population and Of grea
interest to very many who are no
attached to that church. For nearly
year past there have been mutterings ant
rumblings which to the initiated mean
some break in the existing condition o.
things; still to all but the inner circlt
there was only confused idea that some
thing was about to happen. In August
last came the first rumor from Baltimore
that Bishop Becker was to he transferred
to the see of Savannah and in the same
breath came the statement that he was to
be succeeded mt Wilmington by
Father Foley, now of Baltimore.
This could not be confirmed, nor was it
denied, until this week, when it came
again, from New York. II has thus been
announced from the two most important
provinces of the country, and can no
longer be doubted. The official letter or
bull is looked for daily. The last state
ment did not mention a successor, but it
is not doubted that the successor has
been practically chosen. In this connec-
tion the question has arisen with many,
How is bishop chosen?
A rerr sentative of the GAZETTE asked
this question OF a well-informed mem-
Der of the church in this CITY and re-
ceived the following information In this
country the catholic community is laid
Oft into provinces and dioceses, the
former being presided over by arch
bishops, of whom there are twelve, and
the latter by bishops, numbering in all
sixty-two. When new bishop is re-
quired the bishops of the province
in which lies the diocese to be
supplied assemble and make up
list of three names TO be forwarded
to Rome rs candidates. They muy select
the names from their cwn province
or from any other. This list is
forwarded to Rome and from these
three candidates the Pope selects
one. In all cases the bishop-nominate
has to obtain from the Holy See certain
letters, entitled provisions, to authorize
his consecration and to recommend him
to the good Offices of the archbishop of
his province. At conservation, which re-
quires the presence of three bishops, the
new bishop takes an oath to the Pope,
and signs the articles of belief, on which
he receives the episcopal insignia the
mltre; crosier or staff; q gold ring, en-
blematic of his marriage to the church;
the cross upon the breast; the dalmatica,
tunie, and peculiar gloves and chaussure;
and being enthroned, as formal installa- |
tlon into office, he then pronounces the |
blessing on the assembled people.
In the case of a transfer, like that OF |
Bishop Becker, the proceeding is much |
the same. An assemblage of the prelates |
Of his province, is held, the transfer |
formally recommended and forwarded to |
Rome, when if there be no cause de- |
veloped why the transfer should not be |
made, the Pope confirms it and the Gus
tomary letterB or provisions are sent to |
the bishop transferred to authorize his |
removal. The diocese of Wilmington, |
like that of Savannah, is n part of the |
province of Baltimore. The assemblage |
which decided to recommend Bishop |
Becker's transfer met in Baltimore |
last May, and also at the same |
time chose list of candidates |
from which to select his successor. The |
name placed at the head of this list is, in |
the absence of special reasons, generally |
chosen by the Holy See, and in this case |
the name at the head of the list is be- |
lieved to be that of the Rev. John Foley,
d. D., of Baltimore. Nothing has been |
received as to his selection, SO far as the
public knows, but it is not often that the
expressed wish of the prelates of
province is set aside, and therefore Father
Foley is expected. 1t may not be known
until March, but will probably be learned
then. 1t is proverbial that the councils
of the Holy City move very slowly, and
there is no indication of acceleration of
speed in this case.
When the necessary letters arrive the |
time for Bishop Becker's departure is |
entirely in the hands of the archbishop.
1t may be Immediately. Bishop Becker |
and Archbishop or perhaps Cardinal Glib |
bons were consecrated as bishops on the |
same day, in 1868, and the former re-
ceived the higher appointment of the |
two. In his new see he will have ten |
more priests under his charge than he |
had here.