Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-01-30

WASHINGTON. d. q Jan co.
win the project 81 creating q prlmat
III the United States be discussed b.
the Roman Catholic archbishops nov
assembling In Washington for specia
meeting Of the American Hierarchy
This Ii the question thai Is Just nov
uppermost III the minds OF %clurchmeI
and Of . large part 81 the general pub
lie. The report that such 1t the pur
pose III the present meeting of ths
archbishops has been repeatedly
denied during the last few weeks. but
on the other hand the opinion ID ex
pressed BY many persons well inform
ID In Catholic church mattera that The
matter undoubtedly will receive at
tention. Those holding the latter
ylew base their belief largely on The
recent reports from Rome 70 the st.
feet that Pope Plus has expressed the
opinion that Il would be very much
better Tor the churches of the English.
speaking countries 10 manage their
own business without interference
from Rome, In other words. bis holi.
mess Ii understood 10 have proposed
10 grant home rule 10 the Catholics
OF the United States and Australia
As the situation Is viewed In Catho
lic circles hers II would BIZ necessary
70 appoint d prImale before this plan
could be carried ont III The United
states.
The present scheme 81 governing
the affairs Of the Catholic church III
this country Is regarded NJ out Of date
and Its workings in many particulars
are unsatisfactory. For instance. every
tins a priest has q grievance or q BIS.
hop has trouble with his flock or his
subordinates he rushes Immediately
TO the vatican with charges and com,
plants. Every time d new college Ii
TO be started OF any other plan pro-
posed, II Ii necessary for somebody 10
20 TO Rome and ask permission. al
though there are plenty 81 bishops
and archbishops, aud at least one car
dinal In the United States. not to men
ton a personal representative Of the
sovereign pontir In Washington. who Ia
supposed TO have full power.
II Is said that Cardinal Gibbons IL
the only member of the hierarchy
who has been mentioned BY the arch.
bishops for the primacy, The Cardi
nails present rank Of quasi prlmatc
is only honorary. carries no jurisdic.
ton and comes through the fact that
tradition has made the archbishop OF
Baltimore by courtesy the primate Of
the hierarchy Of America. Cardinal
Gibbons has declined 10 discuss tho
possibility Of the honor being con
ferred upon him. when the rumor frst
gained currency IL was stated that
Archbishop Farley Of New York
would carry Il Rome the bindings Of
the council regarding The proJcet for
the creation OF a primate. II Is now
suthoritissly announced that the New
York archbishop has engaged passage
20 sall for Rome next Thursday md
this report has greatly strengthened
the views o. those ~contendlng that tho
question Of the primacy Is 10 be dis
al the present mceting.
Those who q futc tie idea of d III
mate declare thar the meeting IS sole
~ for the consideration ~ routine
matters. including various matters
submitted by the propaganda III Rome
One Of the matters 10 receive atten
ton. il Is said. Il the Italian sitna
ton IN America This question il d
grave n from d religious point ~
view. Italians are coming 70 the Uni
Ted States by the thousands. and
sringing their wives and children with
them. They DO not, - do Irlsh im
igrants, bring their chnrch.golng
habits with them Italian parents
their children TO mass, hut them.
fail easily into j n-catholie
Of staying at houa some
years ago IN response 10 urgent ap
peais. not a few Italian priests were
brought 70 America 10 minister 10
Italian congregations. Some proved
competent, but many more proved
otherwise, and while In italy today
there are many priests who would ne
glad TO come here. there are lew
bishops here who want them. Recent.
" . theological seminary has been
at Troy. Here are sent,
sons OF Italians. born In this country.
% hoped That these SOM will under.
'tsnd American ways. and may BE-