Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30
NOTED PAPAL REFORM
Adopted by Plus K in the In
terests of the Church.
RIGHT TO ALL BISHOPS
TO REMOVE PRIESTS FROM THEIR
PARISHES WITHOUT TRIAL
In Certain Defined Cases Vatican to
Place Members Of Orders Expelled
From Switzerland.


Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, April pa cablegram from
Rome says: Another and very important
reform has just been adopted by Pope Plus
x In the interests of the Roman Catholic
Church and that is one giving the right
to all bishops to remove priests from their
parishes in certain defined cases without
the usual canonical trial. In this respect.
european countries where canon law Is
supposed to be vigorously enforced will be
practically reduced to the same level as the
United States, where nearly all parish
priests are removable and can be trans
ferred to other parishes at will of Dish ID
of diocese.
Until the third plenary council of Balti-
more was held there were no parishes in
America in which a rector could not be re-
moved or transferred whenever a bishop
judged 1t advisable to do So 1t was in or
der to avoid many contentious which arose
against arbitrary powers of bishops and
frequent appeals which went from America
to the congregation of the propaganda
against alleged inJustices and uncalled-for
action of American prelateS that 1t was
decided TO make certain number of par
1shes in each diocese permanent. SO that
their rectors could not be removed or trans
ferred without due process of law and only
for most serious causes.
arisen in America between priests and
bishops because of transfers or removals,
as every priest knows when appointed to
parish that his appointment is only tenn
porary.
This condition is now to be extended to
all European countries in which, according
to existing canon law, priests are appointed
to parishes by competitive examination,
and once appointed could not, before this,
be removed by bishop without formal &C.
cleSiaStical trial.
Caring for Expelled Members.
Arrangements are being made at the
Vatican for the distribution throughout
Italy of members of religious orders which
within the last few years have settled in
Switzerland A recent decree Of the fed
eral council at Berne orders expulsion from
Switzerland within three months of all re-
lisious congregations which have settled
there contrary to law.
Female religious orders caused the isSu-
ance of the decree by posing as educational
institutions, while, as a matter of fact, they
brought from Italy many young girls under
contract to work for them a certain num-
Der Of years for nominal wages, selling
their labor to local factories and thus pro-
viding for their own support.
Many French nuns who had recently
taken refuge in Switzerland will also be
compelled to go to their own converts In
Italy.
Marble Statue Of Leo XIII.
Faithful to a degree and almost startling
is the portraiture in marble of Leo XIII,
which will surmount the tomb Of his holt
ness in the Church Of ST. John Lateran
The statue just completed is a masterpiece
Of Prof. Tadolini. Sculptors who have
viewed it pronounce it of sufficient merit
to rank with the most famous modern
works.
Leo XIII is portrayed rising from the
papal throne with benign dignity, which
inspired hundreds of thousands of devotees
during his lifetime. His hand is appraised
giving apostolic benedictions. The fea lures
poise and habliments are stamped with re-
markable fidelity to life.
Prof Tadoini shows his holiness CARRIED
in full pontficals On his head rests a
triple-crowned tiara. The attitude of the
figure Is infinitely tender and true to life
The statue proper is ten feet in height
Resting on it's pedestal, it forms a glorious
work of csculpture, thirty feet from base
to top.
The record of cardinals created by Leo
XIII is inscribed on the monument. The
body of his holiness still rests In the Vati-
can. A permanent tomb is now being pre-
pared In the Church of st. John Lateran
and upon its completion the body will be
transferred and Prof. Tadolinis supreme
conception erected over it.