The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1903-12-05


When it is known that the plan is applied to
every diocese and every parish in the United States,
it is not difficult to imagine that the results
exceedingly fruitful. Indeed, it may be said that
the. collection of Peters Pence is the most thor
ough the most systematic and the most economl-
caly managed revenue producing agency, combin-
ing both business and religion. that has ever been
attempted in this country. The method OF collec-
ton demonstrates the power of perfect organlza-
ton. From top to bottom, every bit of the vast
mechanism works with absolute precision. There
is order and authority everywhere The spectacle
is presented of one cardinal thirteen archbishops,
eightyseven bishops, 1868 priests and 11289,71O
of the laty working in entire harmony to ac-
complish given purpose. Consider that these
figures relate merely to the United States which
is only nation out of many, and the magnl-
tude of the operation becomes apparent.
Some parts of the distribution of the Papal in
come are regulated by rule but the Pope is the
unquestioned dispenser of the Peters Pence. In
the early age of the Church in England, this
regarded as fixed tax; but now, while considered
a pous duty. it is purely a voluntary contribution.
The Pope, besides allotting hundreds of thousands
of dollars for the running expenses of the Natl-
can for maintaining schools and libraries for sup
porting cardinals and diplomats and for gifts and
charities. maintains also the Pontifical army. 1t
is composed of four sections--the Noble Guard,
the Swiss Guard the Guard Palatine and the
gensdarmes. The only commands receiving pay
are the Swiss Guard and the gensdarmes who live
in the Vatican. The other guards are made up of
the of wealthy families. They reside outside
the walls and support Themselves The Swiss
Guards receive $40 a month, out of which they
must pay for one meal. The fact that every mem
Der of the Noble Guard is count, marquis or
a titled nobeman of some rank makes it the most
unique the most exclusive and the most aristocrac
body of soldiers in the world.
The Pope has no personal salary. There is a
D.. 10
be subject Of subject to any person on earth.
This one thought contains, in nutshell the whole
theory and contention of the Church as to the tenn
poral power of the Pope. He not only protests
against the confscation of Church property, but
he declines to be Italian subject, and is thus
a self-immured prisoner in the Vatican. The Popes
have followed Plus TX in steadfastly declining to
receive the money voted for the maintenance of
the Holy See by the Italian government. 1t is a
grant of about 100000 francs year, and, as it
has been refused for thirtythree years, the total
is now about $20000,000 with interest. No tax is
imposed on the Church for the support of the Pope
In this the Pope differs from every other minister
of the Church. Rectors and curates receive speci-
fed salaries The bishops and supported by the
pastors. Every parish sets aside pro rata sum,
known 'Catherdaticum," for the bishop Car
dinals are paid salary of S., 600 per annum, ex-
actly the amount paid by our government to each
member of the United States senate. Nuncios le-
gates and delegates are paid prescribed salaries.
Pomp and power and responsibility surround
the Pope He has control over immense sums of
money. But out of it all he gains no temporal
or personal advantages He receives simply food
and lodging And it is no exaggeration to say
that his living expenses are as low, if not lower.
than those of the humblest curate in any one of
our large city parishes. One authority has placed
the amount at four francs day.
The Papal delegate to the United States re-
ceves salary of $4,000 per annum, out of which
he pays an auditor and a secretary. Fortunately
some years ago, he was presented with an official
residence in the city of Washington so that he is
relieved from the payment of house rent. His ex-
penses for travel, in going from city to CITY, are
paid by the Propaganda. The United States is not
4 diplomatic mission. The delegate resides here
as the personal representative of the Holy Father
for the purpose of settling ecclesiastical or other
disputes between bishops and priests, and priests
and people. Nuncos are appointed by the Pope to
nations having regular diplomatic relations with
he Holy See. The principal missions are at Paris,
Madrid, Lisbon and Vienna, the capitals of what
are popularity known as Catholic countries.
The congregations or committees are the me-
liums through which the greater part of the bust
ness of the Holy See is transacted
The general plan of doing business at the Vati-
IAN may be best explained by saying that the Pope
s the great centre towards which all of the
yregations converge. Everything of Importance
hey pass upon comes to him for final confirmation.
mass of mail matter is received at the Vatican
very morning-it has been estimated at $4,000
,ieces-and it is distributed with promptness and
,xactness That which is addressed directly to the
separate congregations, of course, goes to them at
irst hand The multitude of letters addressed to
he Pope are opened by his secretaries, and the
that do not require the personal
attention of His Holiness referred to the APP
,ropriate congregations. -Four secretaries, with
heir assistants have all they attend to in open
NC. sorting and distributing the daily mail.
To be an employee of any of the congregations
eoures high degree of intelligence Accuracy
required above all else, and carelessness in
important decisions, relating to faith
md morals. can easily assume the Importance of
venial sin Salaries of the officials are small in
One cases not over 5000 per year. To this is
dded the cost of maintenance. incidentally, it
night be stated that the Vatican itself is par
sh, quite distinct from St Peters. The Vatican
,arish includes all who live in that vast and beau
iful edifce The men who reside and are en-
,loyed there are thaught that there only two
vays to do task-the right way and the wrong
vay The man who does it the wrong way more
han once is soon informed that his usefulness has
zen impaired and that it would be well TO seek |
employment elsewhere. But the forms are so pre-
Use that it seems difficult to go wrong An employee
: COMMANDED to do a certain thing in certain
yav. and apparently nothing but perversity
eft him in the erroneous way. Rules are .indeible.
El-a ,,ourino hot metals into carefully