Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-05-02
TO AMERICAN BISHOPS.

Papal Brief Addressed to the Americas
Bishops Setting Forth the Wishes of the
Holy See in Relation to the Catholic
University at Washington.
BALTIMORE, Md, April 24.-The Cath.
Ollie Mirror publishes the following brief,
addressed to the American Bishops by
Pope Leo Kill, setting forth thu grants
and wishes of the Holy See in relation to
the Catholic College at Washington:
The earnestness with which you apply your.
selves TO the preservation of Catholic piety; to
promote the interests of your dioceses. and
especially to supply safeguards by which pro-
vision is made for the proper training of clergy.
men and young laymen in sound doctrine in
every branch of science sacred and profane
gives US cause OF great JOY. Wherefore very
welcome were your letters sent to US toward
the close OF last year in which you state that
the commenced work the great lyceum
or university ut Washington which you were
promoting had SO far progressed that
all things now ready for the
teaching of theology this year, and
we joyously accept your university laws and
statutes which you submitted to our authority
and Judgment. In which matter we Judge your
purpose most praiseworthy, that you have re-
solved to set up in the centennial year of the
establishment of the ecclesiast ical hierarchy
there monument and perpetual memorial OF
that suspicious event by founding the univer-
your just desires, entrusted your uni.
versity laws brouoht for examination and
recognition to the Most Eminent Cardinals
OF the Propaganda, that they might give us
their Judgment concerning them. Now their
opinions having been laid before US, gladly
granting your requests, we sanction by these
letters the statutes and laws of your universe.
ty. and we give to the same the proper rights
OF a full and regular university. Therefore, We
grant power to your university to promote stu
dents whose knowledge shall have been tested
to academic degrees of doctorship in theology,
philosophy and canon law, and in the other sci
ences IN which it is customary to confer de-
grees and doctorship, when in coming years
the teaching of them shall have been estab-
Hshed in your university.
But we wish you, dearly beloved brethren, to
preside with jealous care over the direction of
studies and the discipline of the students in
your university, either through yourselves or
through prelates chosen from you. whom you
shall have judged proficient for this Office. AS
the See Of Baltimore is the chief among the
Episcopal sees OF the United States of North
America to the Archbishop of Baltimore and
to his successors we grant the privilege of dis
charging the office of Supreme Moderator or
Chancellor of the university. Moreover, we de-
sire, and first of all. in the field of philosophy
and theology, the plan of studies or pro-
gramme OF subjects to be followed in your
university to be submitted for recognition to
this Apostolic see in order that they may be ap-
proved, and that the teaching in every branch
OF knowledge may be so arranged that your
clericS and laymen equally may have oppor-
tunity to satisfy the noble desire of knowledge
by adequate instruction. But amongst these
courses we wish that there be established 6.
school of pontifical and ecclesiastical law,
which knowledge, especially in these times we
know to be of great Importance. We exhort
you all, furthermore. to affiliate to your unlver
slty seminaries, colleges and other Catholic
seats of learning, is suggested in the stat
utes. safeguarding. however, the independence
of each one. In order to derive from the yari-
Gus departments of the great university the
greatest benefits for the greatest number it is
well to admit particularly to those schools Of
theology and philosophy not only those who
should have finished those studies as pointed
out by the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore,
but also even those who are set on beginning
or prosecuting its courses of studies.
Since the great university not only rebounds
to the honor OF your country, that assures the
rich and salutary fruits belonging to the propa-
CATION OF sound doctrine, but the protection Of
Catholic piety, rightly do we trust the noble
minded American faithful will not permit any
thing to be wanting to you, in order to bring
the work to splendid completion.
The Washington University being established
by these our letters, we forbid the founding OF
any other such institution without consulting
the Apostolic see. What we have declared and
appointed by these letters we judge will be
a clear proof of our desire and anxiety o pro-
mote in that region more and more the glory
and prosperity of the Catholic religion.
Given in Rome, at St Peters. on the feast OF
St Thomas Aquinas, 1889, IN the twelfth year
Of our pontificate.
[Signedl LEO P. P. MIL