The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-14

Sosp~l. II up-to the present he has not made
4 public the increasing poverty OF the Papaoy. he
| has communicated TO the nuncios and his rep
resentatlves its growing necessities. As the
tide Of charity recedes, tho wave Of expenses nd-
vaucos. Tho Papacy has grown like the tree of
the Holy Scriptures, that covers all tho earth
with It's powerful and blossoming branches.
The missions continue to stretch out every day
moro and more their golden rays OF light. This
expansion pays itself in sacrifices. Leo XIII.
establishes almost everywhere. but especially
In the extreme East, colleges md native semi
naries, to increase tho power OF giving out light
and OF the attraction ind projection OF West
ern Christianity and civilization. His ideal Of
the reunion Of the 'churches consumes extraor-
binary sums. lie has to enrich patrisrchatcs.
converts, Institutes. and colonies; 10 create
new organs Of lite at Athens. Cons,aniinopie.
Alexandria. Beyrout, &c. In Romo and IN
conveyance of affairs toward tho centre the
bx penses grow In proportion to tho TRANSFERRING
ton; witgcg, counting tae increased cost n al
Leo. Xiii: and the propositions made by tho
devoted OF the iontlhcnte. Since. the finarc'al
financial restoration have been. pouring in:
Like Perrette. each one has his rot, du lat"
through he neshcs Of which waves Of gold
glitter; but the poDc was evidently afraid that
the glitter was merely fictitious. Another
h~nancier at tho present time presents a sketch
Of compulsory contribution, in tho shape OF an
annual centime, from each Catholic, which. IL
appears. would bring In twenty millions.
hut I must stop at the commencement OF
this enumeration because | do not believe that
tho pope would ha 9 anything, TO d5 with these
bankers In. their calculations. The Pope can.
not depend upon any system which would be
Ike the seal aud the halter Of hts vassalasc.
just as he repealed with horror the bgrhens Of
the law OF guarantees. SO he. must fear all
well regulated chnritv,' nl organization
whose nlherAnts might nj uuy mpfnps 4 IprDInp
the moral iailers OF the Pontincate.
The poverty Of the Papacy is tho visible form
Of the Church should Ind itself in distress. a
cry FROM the Pope wonld MI the Golfers of tho
one day the material independents OF tho Holy
See. will DO renewed under a modern aspect
which the new necessities reduire. Even under
this renewed regime. IL seems To me that st. Pc
ter's penny ought TO be maintained rs II guar
ansee OF The liberty Of the Holy Father.
But, II these financial combinations are repug-
napt.-if the old tributes of the Pope appear to
be buried In the cemetery OF history. 10 Is none
the less true that tho Papacy could org .ni4e
tho work OF the penny OF -. Peter aud IL
would be Interesting if-from THE sun OF Now
YORK q practical system should be presented 20
me to "sell my wisdom" In my project there
is nothing new or extraordinary. have not
tho boldness OF All eminent American who.
about two years and n half ago. presented TO
Leo XIII. in the gardens OF tho nramante u
rlan for the enrichment OF the Church. My
proieot. Exists, II Is thar Of the propnsation
OF the faith. The financial ministry OF missions
publishes annually tie statement OF the
amounts received and the amounts expended.
giving names. assets. and receipts. Why can
not the vatican make n similar statement
Why cannot the Holy See every yer show 10
the public Its budget2 II will be said that an
a~rithmotical operation Is hot n financial opera
ton; but that IL wronG. The day when the
faithful would see the coming and going OF
the sums Of money, they would acquire conf
dence. " at all times they count with love
upon the Pope, they have not tho same feeling
toward the Court OF Rome. Tho Folchi inci-
dent agitated the religious masses, while Rome
did not appear TO notice It. Hut that IA not nli.
This renewal, this increase OF faith would
have. for a corvllarv a sort Of control. Every
time.that the receipts would be lowered In tho
expenses, the sImpls evidence OF II would re-
sult In wonderful stimul ilion.
Modern society demands light. Give II TO
It, know tLst Leo XIII. likes TO receive per-
sonally the gracious gifts OF the faithful, and
20 practise that method OF charity Is to win
his. affection. The reason Il that he wishes to
add 10 the Tesoro pontiiico OF tho Status
v type additional sums. But who can blame
the Pope for endeRvoring to realize these sum
or money. An arrangement might be made by
which O given amount for the Treasury might
be taken from the sum received.
suggest. and do not Insist, according TO the
precepi Of voltaire. This transformation OF
the financial Affairs Of the Court OF Rome at
pears To me as grave as the transformation OF
the social and political movements.
When In Its human garment the Papacv shall
DO completely modorniZed, 1t will have the
audience OF the world. ISsoMISATo.