Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-12
RECEIVED WITH APPROVAL
Proposes Notable Departures in
Church Government.
THE PRACTICAL FEATURES
To Simplify or Supplant Much of
the Obsolete and Complicated
Bureaucratic Methods in
Vogue for Years.


ROME, July 1.-THE pope's decree Is
sued last Monday makes the most sweep
ing reform of modern times in the ad-
ministration machinery of the Roman
Catholic Church. Much of the complica-
ted and obsolete bureaucracy which mas
grown up in the past two or three con-
turies is simplified or swept away
The first part of the decree provides for
a redistribution of work, especially by as
signing to offices those most competent
to deal with duties which have been al
lowed to accumulate elsewhere. TO inns
end the decree particularly separates the
legislative and disciplinary functions from
the judicial which in future will be reie-
gated to the proper tribunals.
The second part of the decree lays
down the procedure of these tribunals
which will comprehend in the tribunal OF
the Rota courts of first instance and ap-
peal and in the tribunal of the apostolic
signature a court of cessation 1t also
provides for the protection of poor suit
orS.
The third part establishes rules for the
appointment, promotion and salaries of
all officials. secretaries and others in the
employment Of the holy see.
Enacts Serious Reforms.
Enacting as it does serious reforms i'm
the government of the church, the docu-
ment may be regarded as an important
prologue to the new codex of the canon
law.
To understand more fully these changes
it must be remembered that the actual
government of the church ever since the
sixteenth century has been delegated by
the pope to the congregations of cardi-
nals. These correspond more or less to
the ministers of modern states, an i'm
portant difference being that the congre-
cations possess also legislative and judi
ciaI faculties. There existed also certain
tribunals such the. penitentiary. the
Rota and the apostolic signature and Of
fees for the dispatch of business such
as the chancery dataria, the chamber
lains and that of the secretary of state
In the course of time this has led some
times to a uSurpation and sometimes to
an Interchange of duties with correspond
ing confusion in regard to the work. This
was particularly the case in the judicia
questions assigned to the tribunals OF
the Rota and the apostolic signature. with
the result that case might often pass
through the courts of first instance. ap-
peal and cessation and find the same
judges in each. In future all contentious
cases will be removed from the congre-
cations and will be dealt with by the
tribunals.
Work of the Congregations.
The work of the congregations them
selves has also been redistributed in some
respects. The congregation of the holy
office will only be concerned with the pro-
facti of rip nd bo md M
of hereses. Questions of discipline, sacra-
mental or other. are removed from its
jurisdiction with the exception of the
questions of marriages between Catholics
and non-CathOlics.
The conSstorial congregation is given
wider power in the creation of bishops
and the control of SeminarieS as we'll as
dioceses of this congregation and that of
the holy office. The pope still remains the
prefect.
A now congregation of the sacraments
is created to deal with all questions con-
nected with the seven SacramentS, eSpe-
cially all matrimonial questions, divorces,
separations and others, save mixed mar
riages, which will remain in the hands of
the congregation of the holy office
The congregation of the propaganda
loses it's jurisdiction over England, Scot
land. Ireland, Holland. Luxembourg. Can
ada. the United States and Newfounu-
land which countries now enter into the
common law of the church.
Pope Keen in His Vision
The congregation of the council in addi-
|tion to it's present duties will be intrusted
with the discipline of the secular clergy
and laity, chapters, parishes, pious works
and confraterntieS.
The announcement of the pope's decree
has been received with widespread APP
prevail. The reforms are regarded as rad
ical and complete. The Corriere D'Italia
expresses the general sentiment of local
Catholics when it says:
Plus X enters at once into the ranks of
reforming popes. He has proved how
keen is his vision for the needs of the
church. how unerring his judgment in the
detection of weakness in its organization
and how firm his resolution in apply wing d
remedy In his reforms he has invariably
chosen the most direct path, with the re-
suit that he has succeeded in carrying out
TO universal satisfaction a task of vast
magnitude where more timid reformers
would only have complicated the number
less issues il involved.