Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-30
PLANS OF THE VATICAN
MANAGEMENT OF CATHOLIC
CHURCH IN UNITED STATES.
Powers Of Metropolitan Archbishops
Extended Congregation Of Propa-
ganda Relieved of Details.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.
ROME, January %, 1904
A plan is being considered by Vatican
authorities to relieve the congregation of
propaganda of much of the detail bust
ness of the church in the United States,
which will, 1t is thought, prevent the
congestion of business in the propaganda
and at the same time give the American
church no more independence than it now
enjoys. It is proposed to extend the pow
ers of the American metropolitan arch
bishops so that it will be unnecessary to
apply to Rome for decisions In minor
matters. The plan is yet under considera-
ton, but word has been sent to America
that at the meeting of archbishops which
begins tomorrow in Washington the
heads of the American hierarchy should
consider which of their faculties and
privileges require extension and whether
any change in their powers over the SUI
fragan bishops would lead to solution of
the problem. 1t is felt by Roman authori
ties that the complaints now constantly
received because of the length of time
required to secure decisions from propa-
ganda will be met by the new plan and
that the independence from Rome in
volved in the establishment of an Ameri-
can primate will be avoided.
The meeting of the. American arch
bishops continues to be the subject of
discussion by Roman authorities, even
called for a special purpose, but simply
the annual gathering of the trustees of
the Catholic University, called to consider
the ways and means of maintaining that
institution, which has of late given much
concern to the holy father and to the
trustees because of the difficulties en-
countered in raising funds for itssendow-
ment. 1t was because of this difficulty
POnp a Snacia1
of Cardinal Gibbons, issued brief last
October ordering that special collection
be taken every year in all Catholic
churches of the United States for the sup
port of the university. The last collec-
ton, it is understood here, was somewhat
disappointing, and the trustees must de-
wise means for raising contributions and
lessening the expenses of the institutiou.
Discussed in Correspondence
There has been much correspondence be-
tween Cardinal Satolli, project of studies,
and the rector of the university, Mgr.
OConnell, and also between propaganda
and the apostolic delegation in the United
States as to measures suggested by Rome
for the Improvement Of laws governing the
American church The university has a
prominent place in the correspondence, and
1t has been proposed, to lessen the ex-
penses of the institution that a religious
order be given charge of 1t. The order,
because of its vow of poverty would teach
without other compensation than the sup
port of its members. The plan presents
difficulties. however, first because of the
task of finding an order whose members
are capable of teaching the advanced uni
verSity branches, and second, because of
the danger of giving offense to orders whose
members are already on the ground. The
Jesuits, already in charge of Georgetown
University, have members trained in all
branches of science, acd would seem 20
DprSOnS n1anp n of
the university, especially AS members of
this order were the first to suggest a
change. But several of the archbiShopS,
among them Gibbons, Ireland and Keane
seem opposed to giving this already power
full order another source of influence in the
United States, and advices received in Rome
indicate that they would prefer the Sui
picians, whose special work is the training
of the clergy and who already manage
some of the best ecclesiastical colleges IN
America and France, as more acceptable TO
the American clergy, providing any change
is to be made in present methods regard
ing the university.
See at Washington.
There is still talk of the ACCESSIBILITY of
erecting a metropolitan see at Washing
ton, D. c., detaching the needed territory
from the archdiocese of Baltimore, and the
opinion of the American archbshops is
awaited with interest in Rome If the new
see is erected, it is understood here chat
Archbishop Ireland will be placed at the
head of it. This has been limited by Car
dinal Del Val The appointment of special
Polish heterogeneous in those dioceses
where Polish Catholics are to be found in
large numbers is also to be discussed at
Washington. as the pope has expressed d
desire that the wishes sent to Rome 10y
the Polish committee be complied with at
least in part.
The nomination of new American bish-
fak nn frnr,
is now personally reserved to the pope.
who Will himself make future selections
The pope has done the same regarding Eu-
ropean bishops who are not dependent
from propaganda, and the congregation of
the holy office, of which the pope himself
is project, now has the right that has long
been vested in special congregation es-
tablished for the purpose by the late
Plus TX
Great pressure is being brought to bear
at the Vatican in connection with the con-
sistory to be held next March, in favor of
American candidates for the cardinalate
The many friends of Archbishop ireland
have been unusually active of late in urg-
ing his claims upon the pope, while Arch
bishop Farley'S admirers are equally in
sistent. The recent revival of the discus
sion regarding Americanism in The church
in America, brought out by the suit of ST.
gnor Spadoni, editor of the Roman Herald,
against the general of the Jesuits for serv-
ices rendered in combating the new doc
trneS and also by the recent work of
Able Houtin, which is just now being con-
sidered for condemnation by the congrega-
ton of the index, has greatly endangered
the chances of Archbishop Ireland. Some
claim that friends of the archbishop Of
New York have started the discussion
anew in order to hurt the chances of the
archbishop of st. Paul, but theI is little
The pope is expected soon to make deci-
sion in the matter, hence all the activity