The Irish standard., 1908-07-18

tween judges or between Judge and llt-
igant, or in cases of suspicion attach
ing to any of the judges. the lower
court was competent to give a decision.
In fact. 1t performed all the functions
which are proper to the Supreme Ju.
dicial Court.
The Signature Of Grace was not
properly a tribunal. 1t was a con-
sulting body to determin upon tho
graces or favors asked Of the Pontifc
in some judicial matter. The suspen..
sion or quashing of a sentence because
OF peculiar hardship entailed was a
matter for the consideration Of tho
Signature of Grace. 1t came to It.
decisions. not according to the rules
of strict justice. but according to the
claims of equity corresponding to I
similar procedure in our civil courts.
These tribunals were occupied also
with civil cases. while the Pope was
temporal sovereign of Rome. These
cases were SO numerous and took up
so much of the time of the judicial
Curia that in the years preceding 1870
practically it's whole work was conhn-
ed to civil cases. In the meantime lit
igants had been bringing their strictly
judicial cases before the different Con-
gregations. so that these collegiate bod
les formed to exercise administrative
power. began to exercise judicial power
and to determine the contentious mat
ters before them
Such was the trend Of affairs which
developed naturally to such an extent
that when in 1870 the Holy Father was
deprived of his civil princedom and
civil cases ceased altogether, the Rota
and Signature fell into desuetude.
where they have remained ever since.
the different Congregations continuing
to do the strictly judicial work which
originally belonged to the Rota .a,1
Signature
The Papal document is reform In
line with the Holy Fathers policy
|
places these administrative and iu-
dlcial institutions in the place in .ne
organization Of the Church which tIev
originally occupied. and calls them
back to their former scope and mean
Ing. with perhaps an enlargement of
scope and power in the case of some.
The Sacred Rota will be international
In character. and all strictly judicial
cases will be referred to 1t for ex-
animation and decision.
The Congregation Of Propaxanda.
whose power was cun1ulatior. of oil
the powers Of the other Congregations
as regards the countries subject to its
jurisdiction, loses the United States.
Great Britain, Holland. Luxemburg.
Gibraltar, Canada and New Foundland.
Hitherto all questions from these
countries. judicial and xtra-iudtcial.
were referred to the CONVERSATION Of
the Propaganda. Now they will 70 to
the different congregations as the aa.
ture Of the matter submitted demands.
The Church in the United States, in
stead of being under the Jurisdiction
Of one Congregation. comes under sew
eral, especially those Of the Holy
ONCE. the Index, the Congregation Of
Bishops and Regulars, the consistory
and the Secretaries Of State.
This simplifes procedure and avoid.
double power. All diplomatic posts.
for instance, in these countries which
are now liberated from tho rule Of
Propaganda will no longer have ths
double responsibility Of reporting both
to the Propaganda and to the secre-
tary Of State. There will now be no !.
question Of divided Jurisdiction. Tnas
document constitutes another great re-
form Of Piux x. who is showing q
practical craftsmanship and wisdom
In regulating and determining the
respective spheres Of the judicial ana
Administrative estaaisations In tho
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