Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-07-06
NATIONALITY LINES
Will be Wiped Out By the Latest Decree in Regard to Catholic
 Parishes and Churches

ParlSfleS ana CnurCneS
 The following circular was read in the Catholic churches yesterday:
 Hartford, Conn, June 30, 1903.
 Rev Dear sir:-We beg leave to call your attention to the enclosed decree of the Propaganda, issued April 26. 1897.
 It deals with the right of people who speak different languages to be come members of churches wherein the vernacuFar English is spoken.
 All disputes arising on that score m the diocese of Hartford shall be set tied according to the ruling of this de- cree.
 You are. therefore, requested to keep the enclosed copy on file in the paro- chial archives.
 Yours very faithfully in Xt.
 ''' .'-' MICHAEL TTERNEY.
 Bishop of Hartford.
 Tgre decree is as follows:
 Washington, May 12, 1897. Most Illustrious and Most Reverend
 Sir: ..g,. ..-..
 Owing bo the fact that, here in the United States. parishes flor the accom- motiation of people speaking dinerenS languages have been established wath- in the same territory, there have ar1s- en disputes bearing on the respectlVe rights of these parishes over children born of parents who are members oI non English speaking parishes, anu over foreigners who are familiar with the English tongue
 As the questions under considera tfo1 are grave, this apostolic delegation mas judged 1t the part of wisdom to suoTnie them for adjudication to the superior judgment of the Sacred Congregation Of the Propagation of the Faith one more so as they seem to fall within the scope of certain decisions rendered by fYle same tribunal on the 11th day or April, 1897.
 Now. according to the tenor of these decisions, the most eminent prefecT oI The congregation, in a letter transmit ted to us under date of April 26 of the mresent year. prot n. 22972, declares: That the children born in America of narents speaking foreign tongue, are not held. on coming of age, to affli- fate wifh the parishes to which thelr parents belong, but they enjoy the rieht of joining parishes where the vernac11lar English is spoken. 2-Ihat foreaen Catholics who know the Eng fish lanerlaae have likewise the flghI to facnne members of churches Ill nrhipfa English is spoken, nor can they he forced to place themselves under the i,1risdictnn of the rectors Or <.ly7,r<shes wherein their native tongue is in use.
 I have thought it we'll to submit these decisions to your lordship, mean ,v.trile I remain. with all due reverence and respect. your lordship's devoted servant in Christ,
 SEBASTIAN. Ar.hhishop of Ephesus, Delegate Apos-
 tnlic.
 At the Immaculate Conception rhureh Father Slocvun explained the circ,IIar in detail. He said that up to the nressnt people of different nation aIities were supposed to attend separ- ale churches. This was for many ne cessary and convenient, The nom Engfish speaking churches, however do not have parish lines and people from any part of the city went to the church in which their own language was snoken. In the English speaklns churches parish lines prevail ana Ill ~ha future people of any nationality ean attend hhe church and become a nemt,er of the parish within Wnose limits they reside.
 The negula tton also entities them to the usual parish privileges of baptisns marriages and. funerals. Father BIO cl,u considered it a step forWard III +he Americanization of the whole peo pie.
 Since it was made public the decree Aa. cousa<7 nouSidara bIe discussion in this city.
 The Rev Father Senesac, pastor or St Ann's church. was asked for his opinion of the decree. He said that ne did no+ care to discuss the decree at this time, neither did he desire to at- taeh any blame to any persons. Dur, l ing this warm weather he did no1 blame any person for attending the church which was nearest to them. Il was his opinion that the attendance al l his church would not be affected by the publishing of this decree. Some French Catholics were already attendlne l churches where English was spoken l while on the other hand there were dozen or more Irish families who at tended his church regularly.
 $. The Rev Father Saurusaitis, pastor l of St Joseph's Lithuanian church said ! s*Yes I have a strong objection to thf decree. and so have the national priests l of the country. It is possible that the l French and German priests of the country may appeal to Rome. The de cree can be productive of much trou ble. If I make rules or regulations fol my people, they can say that they neeC not obey them; they can go to some other parish. have already had few experiences of that nature. Is it righ1 that persons who can speak few 1 words of the English language should 1 go to a church where English i! spoken? Tn my opinion no, for the, will not understand the sermons or th' instructions. Furthermore. they vii not be able to make a good confession I know cases of abuse of the privileges of this decree which have already. takeT place. cannot say what effect it vii have on the attendance at St Joseph $ Foreigners will naturally forget thei native tongue after taking up thef1 i residence in fIis country. Why should