The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-08-06
Notice Of Sweeping Changes in
Policy of Catholic Church
Received From Rome
COLOSSAL REFORMS ORDERED
Church Of Rome Reorganizes Govern
ing Bodies and American
Church is no Longer a
Missionary Church

from Rome is the one recently sent to
the United States by Pope Plus x,
containing the mandates Of the apos
tolic constitution, which was made
public In Rome on the Feast of SIS.
Peter and Paul.
The document was sent to Mgr. Fal-
COMO, apostolic delegate in Washing
ton, and by him distributed to archbi-
shops and bishops in the united States.
The copy received, by Archbishop
Messmer is in the Latin text, and it
will be several days before the arch
bishop can take up the work of care
fully examining all Of the provisions.
Concerning the apostolic constitu-
ton, Washington dispatch says:
The document is considered by
Catholic churchmen as the most colos-
sal reform ever attempted by any of
the Roman pontifs, not excepting the
decree of the Council of Trent in 1915.
''The church people in Washington
consider that the present pontiff re
galds modernism as threatening the
church. L is pointed out that among
the sweeping changes, Plus X lras
dismissed the entire personnel Of the
congregation of the council; that is,
the committee of cardinals hitherto
charged with interpreting the DEGREES
of the Council of Trent, and in it's
place, he has created the congregation
of the code, a committee whose sole
duty will be to make plain the obliga-
tions Of the Catholic world under the
new apostolic constitution and under
the code of canon law which will be
published in about two years.
The document is divided into three
parts, the first of which deals ex-
clusively with the reorganization Of Ro-
man congregations which assist the
pope in all matters relating to the
government Of the church The chan
ges are so wide in scope and SO drast-
ic in character that American church
men are amazed. Especially does the
reform touch all matters of conten-
ton between priest and bishops and
even between laity and clergy, and the
entire proceedings have been placed on
cold legal basis wherein courts Of
first instance and courts of appeal
are established and their rights defined
The second part of the document
contains special laws regarding the
constitution and proceedings of the two
Roman tribunals to which Plus x. has
transferred all purely judicial and
conventions matter referred to Rome.
and the third contains the regulation
for the composition and workings of
the Roman tribunals.
The most important portion Of the
constitution as it refers to this coun-
try is the transferring of it's affairs
!! from the propaganda fde to the com
mon jurisdiction of canon law. The
bishops of the United States will here
after transact all business with the
various heads Of congregations instead
OF with the perfect Of the propaganda.
A change which is greeted almost
with enthusiasm is that which takes
al! purely judicial and controversial
matters from the congregation and
places chem in the hands Of duly con
stituted tribunals called the Rota or
inst instance, and Sagnatura, or court
of appeal. These courts are rigidly
organized and confer the right on all
high or low, cleric or layman-to
appear and plead the case. It permits
an appearance without the compulso-
ny representation by legal counsel or
agents of any kind, and makes provi-
sion for the necessary gratuitous legal
advice for those who cannot afford a
fec Every sort of legal fee connected
with vatican business has been lessened
and the right to dispense entirely the
poor has been conferred on the proper
authorities The officials of these
courts will be ten prelates to be known
as auditors and all must be doctors or
theologlans of standing and doctors of
canon law, and they must cease to hold
office wien they reach the age Of IS.
Under the new rule the prelates
Will try all cases in groups Of three,
five, or seven judges, or even the whole
body when the case is grave. There
arc special rules to prevent the same
men who preside over the hearings in
the first instance from taking part in
an appeal For the future the clergy
or laity who wish to appeal case
from the diocesan court can appear
before the Rota where they may plead
their case personally or through legal
counsel. If they are. not satisfied they
may take an appeal and the case will
be tried by different auditors. A still
further appeal can be taken to the
supreme court or the Segnatura for
four specific reasons, the details OF
which have not yet been explained
in this country.
Another important ruling regards
the age at which the deacons prepared
for the priesthood may be ordained
At present seminarian is ORDAINED a
full fedged priest at "a and under
dspensation he may receive his priest
~ Status at % IL. Under the new
rule he must be 81, and deacons and
'subdeasons are given specific duties