The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1908-08-08
New Status of American Catholic
Church.

Church.
The United States has been changed
from its ecclesiastical status in the Ro-
man church as a missionary country"
By dispatches from Rome it is learned
that this country, in company with
Canada, Great Britain and Holland. has
been removed from the jurisdiction of
the propaganda and placed under the
ordinary tribunals of the church. These
reforms. made by decree of the pope.
are looked upon as the most sweeping
changes Of modern times in the admin
istrative machinery of the Roman Cath
Hc church. Thereby much of the COM
rlicated and obsolete bureaucracy
which has grown up in the last two or
three centuries is simplified or swept
away. This act Of the holy father. OBJ
serves the Catholic Universe of Cleve-
land, means that he recognizes that
the faith has attained a recognized
place I'M English-speaking countries,
that the day of prescription and perse-
cuti0n has passed away, let us hope
forever The changes as they will af-
feet the administration of the church in
America are thus calculated:
Up IN the present time the United
States, Ireland. England, Scotland. Aus
tralia. with much more of the world,
have been i'm all religious matters sub
jet 10 the congregation for the propa-
cation Of the faith, commonly called
propaganda 1t had a universal juris-
diction ia missionary countries, and if,
in questions Of faith, it referred to the
holy office, and, in questions of dispen-
sation. it referred to the sacred peni-
tertiary, etc. it did so not because of
s-Fsr g
utility, For this country all appoint
ments to vacant bishoprics. as we'll as
the division of dioceses and the estab-
lishment of new sees, We're in the hands
Of The authorities of the propaganda;
always, Of course, subject to the ap-
1roval Of the holy father.
IL will interest all Catholics to know
what congregations are to take the
place Of propaganda in our regard un-
DER the new dispensation. In the first
place, there is the cOnsistory, as it is
called. that is to say the assemblage
o. cardinals with the pope for the trans
action Of the business Of the church.
The consist0try is public or secret The
public c1nsistory is open TO lower dig
Miares and even to the laity and is
much In the nature Of a court. The
secret c0nsistory is a business meet |
ing IN which only pope and cardinals /
Participate Here cardinals and bish- |
ops are formally appointed, sees and |
ler boundaries marked out, etc. Even |
under propaganda all episcopal appoint |
h4ntS were proclaimed in consistory.
After the consistory comes the con-
Efgauon Of the holy office. which has 4
charge of watching over the purity of |
isith and morals and the punishment |
d offenders. BY an act of our holy ia /
-aar, dated Dec. i. 1903. the selection |
% al. bishops for Italy and its adjacent |
Islands and all places where there are /
DO eoncordats or special ordinances is |
gwen over to the holy office. This !
means that as we are now removed |
from the Jurisdiction of propaganda, the |
next bishop Of Cleveland viii be APP |
pointed uy the holy office
Besides there is the congregation of |
cardinals for the Interpretation of the
leclSons Of the council Of Trent. It |
-as legislative and dispensing power in
on matters concerned with the enact
ments Of that council
mere ls also the congregation of
'SAops and regulars. which takes
-i-zaHce Of tue appeals of priests or
'''sE against the ordinary. Of delin-
slenrles, administration, disputes,
~ and Of the internal and external
.2Uo'es OF religious orders that are
"oIthy of being brought to its notice.
VI course there are many other con-
legations which in one way or another
nave share I'm the government Of the
.AgfcA, such as the congregatio consis-
s'.4als. the congregation of rites and
Igences, and the congregation for
- ~ @.Ia9I1inary ecclesiastical affairs.
! mere are also the offices of the Roman
.' la' chief among which in general
~ p9rte1ce is that Of the secretary of
s.ale Who in the days of the papal
s.aleS was the pope's prime minister
.u VINO now is charged with the con-
Luel of the diplomatic affairs Of the
lE see and is in all public affairs the
P9pe representative. He does not
I'm 10 have any direct share in the
government Of the church, though he
Inns up large as the pope's alter ego
- recent instance in the memory of all
us is the controversy with the
french government. the outcome of
an '.'.' was the violation Of the concor-
-, I'M. ana the rupture Of the relations be-
zen church and state"
81, = Roman dispatch to the New York
bsl announces that the pope's decree
~ ~ oeen received with widespread APP
~, ai. The reforms are regarded as
a. and complete. The Corriere !
ana Of Rome is quoted an express
din Oie general sentiment of local Cath (
0''cs in saying: :