New-York tribune., 1900-12-02

has nearly as many sees as the rest Of Europe
taken together. This enormous preponderanee
IS in itself an obstacle TO reform within the
Church. since the Italian bishops and archbish-
ops living within easy reach Of Rome, can OUT
number the bishops Of any other country or
probable coalition Of countries which might de-
sire TO effect any reform in an Ecumenical COUn-
ell. The Vatican with its army Of italian prel-
ates, possesses a strong nucleus for making a
packed majority any question II may wish TO
force through council. The history OF the de-
bates or rather of the voting. or the dogma OF
Papal infallibility shows that all the resistance
Of the more enlightened northern bishops was
useless against the compact body OF ignorant
Italian preIates, who joined by the Span
iards in adopting everything the Vatican desired.
Spain has hfty-fOur sees. These, added to the
275 Italian sees. constitute majority numerous
enough to defeat the rest of Europe which, with
out Spain, can muster only 259.
BISHOPS AND Summaries.
Besides these bishops and archbishops who
actually reside in their sees, there are the titu-
lar bishops and archbishOps, who are said to be
are Italians. and u Of the 101 reside in Italy.
Seventeen Of the others are employed mis-
siOnaries and seven are papal nuncOs. The to-
tai number or Catholic bishops and archblshOps
in the world is 1.243, Of whom 316, or nearly
One-third, are Italians The Italian Government
has often turned it's attention TO the position OF
the Italian bishops. 1t desires reduction in
their number and prOpOrtiOnate division OF
their revenues. Some Italian sees are not much
larger than good sized parish. The See OF Cal
lipoli, for instance. has only three parishes and
l0,OOO inhabitants; CaSteilaleta has five par
lSneS and ZI,UDO inhabitants The two sees OF
Gravina and MOntepelOsO count together nine
parishes and 2421O inhabitants. Each Of these
little sees has its cathedral, with it's chapter OF
canons. The Chapter Of MOntepelOsO. for in
stance, numbers twenty y-eight canOns and chap
lains Every diocese has it's seminary, with
chairs for every subject, from Latin to theology
MOST OF these chairs are occupied by one two
professors, because il would be impossible to
have fifteen or sixteen professors for twenty or
thirty seminarists. Naturally, the priests thus
trained leave the seminary ignorant and narrow
minded, knowing little more of the world than
what goes on under the shadow Of the local
cathedral One bishop from the south Of Italy
stated not long ago that he produced very good
priests IN his seminary at a cost Of less than E1
a month head They were young peasants
VINO Rad been accustomed 10 live on pOenta and
onions at home, and he fed them fnexpensiveIy
on the same diet in the seminary. Naturally
many OF these sees possess revenues So small
that they are unable to do more than keep body
and soul together.
ANTAGONISM TO REFORM
Each see has kept the revenue which il re-
celVed before Italy was united, 81 bishops have
tI20 year, IS have less than t30O year Al
have between t4OO and tIOO a year 21 between
f1oSd e ,d ana ti'oo0 seven between tl2O0 and
tl4Ol four between t2tO0 and = 4O0. others
receive as much t3ONp t.. .-t1 and e 500 a
year The Bishop Of Catania. whose diocese
comprises twenty-five parishes, with 10000 in
haDltants, has a revenue Of t. tOO year. The
same disprOpOrtiOn exists in the income of the
parish priests. The Italian Government is un-
able to remedy this state Of things and the
Curla, anxious 10 maintain the numerical supe-
rOrlty of the Italian bishops over those Of
other countries. Will not hear of reform. A for
eign Pope might, if he were elected and free to
act. reform the whole Italian Episcopal system,
but the italian majority in the Sacred College
will take care to prevent his election.