The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-23
CHANGE OF JURISDICTION
AMERICAN CATHOLIC CHURCH MAY
BE GIVEN NEW RULEReBIP.
IL 1t Is Transferred from Congrega-
tion OF the Propaganda It's whole
system VIII BE Affected.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
NEW YORK, Aug. 22.-For a number OF
years there has been talk in Catholic cir
cles regarding the advisability Of removing
the church in the United States from the
control Of the Congregation Of the Propa-
ganda, and placing II en- the same footing
as the church I'm the South American re-
publics and the Catholic countries OF Eu-
rope. The accession of Pope Plus y has
renewed discussion OF the subject. as IL Is
reported that on at least one occasion an
American priest petitioned the new Pope
TO make the change. 1t can Se stated IN
general terms that American bishops and
atchbishaps prefer TO have the United
States continued missionary country.
but that the priests favor change. The
reason for this difference In opinion is that
under the present system the parish priests
are, as a rule. immediately under the au-
thority of the bishop and can be removed
without the privilege OF protest or appeal,
Should the Catholic Church in the United
States be taken from the Propaganda.
canon law would Immediately come into
effect and under it all pastors would be
irremoveable unless charges Were broushf
against them. These charges would have -
be forwarded to and decided at Rome.
At the present time the Propaganda Is the
only congregation at Rome which deals
with the ecclesiastical business or the
Roman Catholic Church in the United
States, but the moment this country ceases
to be a missionary field the church here
would become subject In ecclesiastical mat
tiers to the other Roman congregations,
each of which attends to one branch OF
church business--unlike the Propaganda,
which embraces all. All appointments and
dispensations would be received through
the Dataria, which forwards all bulls and
briefs of nomination to the bishops. Monas-
teal affairs would be decided by the Con-
gregation of Bishops and Regulars, while
matters relating 10 secular priests would
come before the Council. It Is said that
there would be an advance in the amounts
of fees, as the Propaganda In not allowed To
charge regular amounts 10 missionary coun-
tries, which are considered to be poor.
Should the change come. the church in this
country would be counted OF much greater
Importance than now. and there would
doubtless be several American cardinals.
Another effect would be the probable aboli-
ton of the Apostolic Delegation at Wash-
ington, unless the United States govern
ment should choose 20 recognize the papaf
delegate as a regular member OF the dplo-
matte corps, with similar standing to thar
of representation OF foreign powers.
The Congregation OF the Propaganda 10
the largest and perhaps the most important
of all Roman congregations. It's 1urisdic-
ton extends over the European countries
whose inhabitants left the Roman Church.
in large numbers during the reformations
over all OF Africa and Australia and over
the larger part of the Orient. Its present.
head is Cardinal Cotti. and associated with
him are twenty-five cardinals and abous
thirty lesser prelates, called consultors.
There Is also a section of the congregation
having special jurisdiction over the orien-
tai countries, with which are included
Russia Asia and northern Africa. The
congregation meets weekly and its deci-
have his approval before becoming effect-
i've The administration of this immense
congregation is expensive, its cost being
met by income from legacies and other
funds which have accumulated since the
time of Gregory XIII. it's founder. IL is a
common error To believe that the congrega-
ton OF the Propaganda sends money abroad
for the support OF Roman missions What
support is not received on the mission fields
comes. as a rule. from the French Society
for the Propagation OF the Faith. an organ .
ization administered independently. Cath 4
olics all over the world contribute to II.
and il is thereby enabled 10 spend about
100000 annually In support Of missions.