Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1905-12-06
AIexanoria 6azettf.
WEDNESDAY EVENING. DEC. 6, 1905
The Pope and the Church in America

The Pope and the Churcn IN America
The New York World of Monday last
contained the following dispatch from
Rome The well-infOrmed Vatican
correspondent of the Stampa, proml-
nent paper Of Turin, is authority Tor
the statement that when, few days
ago. MGR. Thomas 5. BYrne, Bishop OF
Nashville, Tenn, was received IN pr
vate audience by the Pope the converse
tiop of the Ponrii dealt principally upon
serious abuses which are said to be
found in the Church in America, and
which Plus X declared he was deter
mined 10 suppress at any cost. Accord
ing to this information, which originated
from very authoritative source, Plus y
complained of the fact that, while tine
number of Catholics in America has
been on the increase for many years
past because of immigration FROM Catho-
lie countries, the number OF actual con-
versions from Proiestaui'm continues
practically to be very limited, while
there are thousands OF Instances OF Cath
olics abandoning their religion for other
denominations.
Naturally this condition Of things
was viewed with alarm by the head OF
the Church, and Plus y. asked the
Nashville preIale to explain why things
should Re 80. On the American pref
ate mumb'ing 80 he sort of explana-
ton Plus Y according to the CORE
spondent startled the Bishop by eDum-
Grating several of the abuses exist
ing in America Of which, be said, he
had been Informed through private
sources.
First of all the Pontifi' deprecated the
custom allowed in many American do
cesses to exact an entrance fee on sun
DAYS, and holidays from the people at
tending mass in the churches. In the
opinion of the Pontif such custom
must be abolished, the sooner the better.
as it practically constitutes hindranee
to poor people attending the church,
aud might be the cause of preventing
Protestants or mont Catholics from listen
ing to Catholic sermons and explana-
tions of the Catholic doctrine.
The Pope then dwet at length on
other abuses of the same kind which he
had been informed were prevalent in
manv churches in America.
The Pope also added that he had
been informed from reliable sources that
this aud other abuses which he named
constitute the principal reason why 80
many thousands of Italians, after arrlv-
ing in America never set foot again, or
very seldom. in the churches in which
their religion ia preached. aud that many
even bring up their children in utter lg-
norance of their religious duties, aud a:e
practically lost to the Church in which
they were born.
To the utter amazemeut Of the Nash
Vile prelate the Pope then spoke very
emphatically of the fact that he knew
how some of the American bishops had
surrounded themselves with more lux
uries than even the Pope thought him
self entitled to- Some of them had great
palaces as residences, in which they led
an easy and comfortable life, while TAX
ing very little interest in the manage
ment Of the parishes of their respective
diOceses, which were left entirely IN the
hands Of the parish priests.
Plus X. added that the time was not
far distant when he would be enabled
to extend his work OF reform to the
Church in Americs. and send there some
of the members Of the religious orders
which he considered the right arm of
the Popb, as apostolic visitors to report
on actual conditions.