The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-19
NO NEW CARDINALS.
COnsistory Is Not Likely to BE Held
Before Spring.


In Roman Catholic Church administra-
ton the process Of changing laws from a
missionary district to an autonomous
church is going on. Until very short
time ago the United States was a mis-
sionary district and under the Immediate
charge OF one of the congregations in
Rome The laws governing such district
| and especially affecting missionaries, as
all Roman Catholic bishops and clergy
in effect have been. contemplated an sd-
ministrative head not in this country and
subject only TO the Pope. With the new
status comes rev laws bestowing upon
bishops new powers and responsibilities
AS part Of the new administrative plan
system Of courts Is being set I'D. Two
| examiners are to form part Of the adj
ministration Of each diocese, and, with
the bishop. they are to be a court for the
hearing and decision of all minor, and in
some cases, large causes. Diocesan syn
DDS have long been held. but until now
their prerogatives have been exceedingly
limited. Now they are given larger pow
ers of recommendation and in some cases
administration. Under the new practice
the Catholic Church in the United States
will have the same standing as it has
had in France, Germany. and Austria
for centuries. The changes are looked
upon with marked favor by all Catholic
bishops
Speculation concerning postponed con-
sistories is going on In the Roman Cath
Ollie Church in this country The Sacred
College II Cardinals is now reduced TO
forty-nine the lowest number in many
years, Cardinal Sanminiatellis death the
other day making the vacancies twenty
one. As the college IS practically never
filed TO its traditional number of sew
enty, there can hardly be any estimate
OF the number of vacancies Reasons
for the postponement OF the consistory
given in the cable dispatches are not
considered reliable by American Catho-
lies. Portugal conditions, or even Span
ish ones, especially political conditions.
hardly caused changes in plans of the
Vatican, 1t is thought.
There are. 1t is known, three pressing
reasons, two at any rate. why a consist
DRY ought 10 be held One is the number
been in their ranks and their proportion
is now the lowest II has been for a cen
fury. For this reason the creation of
new Italian cardinals is certain to be
made when a consistOry comes to be
held. A second pressing condition is the
| number of persons of high rank, Usually
! cardinals, who have not yet been elevat-
| ed, such as the Archbishop of Paris, the
Archbishop of Westminster, and two
nuncios al foremost continental courts
A third condition. thought pressing by
many, is the growth Of the Roman Cath
Ole Church In the United States and its
recognition in the college by Il greater
number than one
Those best informed are authority for
saying that politics has nothing to do
with the postponement of consistories
and that the reason is a personal one
with Pope Plus X who is said to hold
high ideas and ideals III regard to Gre
alton OF princes OF his church. The same
authorities continue to declare that for
the present no new American cardinals
will be created. The present reports are
a consistory in January. but such date
Is unusual, and those best informed do
not look for one until spring. II is known
that no changes have taken place in the
attitude OF the Pope toward the holding
Of the consistOry. The lapse OF time
since the last consistory is unprece-
denied.