The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-02-04
MAY BE CHANGED
headquarters of Society for
Propagation Of rain
May Be Placed in Charge of Pro-
paganda at Rome.

paganda at Rome.
Owing to the uncertainty of the re-
ligious and political situation in
France, there is probability that the
central offices of the Society for the
Propagation Of the Faith, at present
in Paris and Lyons, will soon be
transferred to Rome, and made de-
partment Of the Congregation of Prop
ag;nda.
This society, which was organized
in 1922 through the efforts of some
members of the French clergy, is the
main support of the Catholic missions
all over the world. Up to the close
of the past century it had raised for
missionary purposes the enormous
sum of $42O76,9O5, of which more
than nine millions were spent in build
ing up the church in the United
States. Branches are established in
nearly every diocese of the world, and
the money needed for missions is
raised through the yearly contribution
of the members, special donations and
legacies. In every country there ex-
lists a central Office which collects the
amounts contributed from each dioce-
san director and transmits them to
tha oo,,f,.0l offiooe ;,, Do
1t was only recently that the central
office Of the society for the United
States was transferred from Baltimore
to New York, and is now at No. 627
Lexington avenue.
The report of the society for the
past year shows that nearly one mil
lion and half dollars were raised
for missionary purposes during the
same period, and that Of this amount
the Catholics Of the United States had
contributed only $132,321, of which
more than half was spent for the In
dian missions in that country. The
bulk Of the money collected came
from European countries, especially
from France, where the Catholics
have always been generous supporters
of the society.
1t is in order to forestall any hos
tile action on the part of the French
officials that Plus x has thought it
more desirable for the society to have
its administrative offices in Rome,
thus placing the money collected out
of the reach Of French anti-Catholic
legislation. Several efforts in this d.
rection have been made by preceding
Popes in years past in order that the
Congregation Of Propaganda, which
has the general direction Of all Cath
Ole missions, should also have the
handling Of funds contributed for their
support by Catholics all over the
world, but the officials strenuously re-
sisted all attempts of the Roman Off
Gals to curtail the independence of
the society, and even refused to ad-
nit as a member Of the central admin
istr;ltion at Lyons an agent Of the
Roman Congregation.
Circumstances, however, have
changed considerably since then, and
as serious fears were entertained by
prominent Catholics regarding the fu-
ture existence Of the society in
France, owing to the possibility of adj
verse legislation and confiscation of
its properties on the part of the Off
Gals of the government, Plus K finally
consented that the central Offices be
transferred to Rome.
Circular letters will now be sent to
all the officers Of the society order
ing that hereafter all contributions be
transmitted to the central administra-
tion at Rome instead of at Lyons, as
formerly. Already some foreign men,
bers of the society have transmitted
their offers to the Propaganda, ex-
pressing their fear as to the stability
of the society in France.
The officials of the Propaganda con-
slider the change of great benefit for
the Roman Congregation which in
case of urgent needs in the missions
under it's jurisdiction had to send spe-
cial requests for funds to the French
headquarters of the society. The Car
dinal Prefect of the Congregation will
now have the main say in the yearly
apportionment of the moneys collect
cd among the Catholic missions of the
world, and his knowledge of the needs
of each place will make possible a
more efficient work of distribution.
The fact that the Catholics of Amer
lea barely contributed one-tenth of the
total amount collected during the year
has made it necessary for the officials
to have the attention of the Ameri-
can bishops called to the matter.
Each bishop has been recently urged
to establish branches of the society
in every parish, and a diocesan d.
rector with jurisdiction over all the
parish branches Thus it is expected
that by large increase of American
, members the contributions Of. Ameri-
can Catholics toward the support of
missions and missionaries will during
the next year at least equal those of
the Catholics of Europe.