The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-04-20
reduced, if it did not entirely dis

again, the 18,483, 800 omits no
element that goes to increase the
Catholic population, except the
increase by conversions. The
Catholics in the foreign-born popu-
lation are estimated at the high
est percentage that the census and
immigration reports will allow.
The Catholic natural increase is
fixed in each decade much higher
than the average natural increase
of the whole population of the
country
This years issue of the Direc-
tory places the Catholic population
of the United States at 1905, 500.
This estimate is based on the fig
ures obtained from the different
Diocesan Chanceries; and it is
well-known fact that these totals,
compiled from the reports sent in
by the pastors of parishes, fall be-
low the actual Catholic popula-
ton. It is a difficult matter to get
an accurate religious census. What
must guide the pastor in this i'm
portant work? Whom will he
count as Catholics? Those who
make their Easter duty? Who oc-
cupy pews? Who are personally
known to him as members Of the
flock? In this connection the
London Tablet said recently: cit
is most unfair to refuse a man as
a Catholic because he does not al
ways lead perfect life, nor al
ways obey the Church laws. No
religious body could stand that
test. We were warned that there
would be tares among the wheat.
There always have been Catholics
who disobey laws and 60 wrong in
various ways. n y y This is
what is wrong with so many cal
culations made by non-Catholics.
They take as their test some i'm
possibly high standard. Of obedi-
ence to laws and refuse to admit
any one as a Catholic unless he
conforms to that. y y Who,
then, is a Catholic, to be counted
in our total? Shall we
say that man is a Catholic who
has been baptized by Catholic
or who has been formally received
into the Church and has not since
been communicated nor has de-
liberately joined any other relig-
ious body? That seems reason
able, and leaves room for slack
Catholics, bad Catholics and pri-
vate heritics who, we are told ex-
pressly, do not cease to be men,
bers of the Church. -
If we count as Catholics, there
fore, all those who have not for
mally renowned the Church, or
abjured the Catholic falkland
there is no reason why this should
not be taken as the criterion
Of membership-then it is safe
to say, that the estimate Of the
Catholic Directory should be in
creased very materially, and would
not fall very much, if any, below
that given by Bishop Canevin.
Some years ago Archbishop Glen
non, Of st. Louis, investigated this
problem and reached the conclu-
sion that the Catholic population
Of the United States was, at the
lowest estimate, not less than IT,
100000. Ii we accept these figures
it is clear that the actual leakage
and losses of the Catholic Church
in the United States have not been
very great. There. are no reliable
statistics to show that it is as
great as even the lowest estimate
that has been placed upon it by
those who are continually harping
on this phase Of Catholic life in
America.
Bishop Canevin is to be highly
commended for the effort he has
made to get at the truth in this
important matter. The question
is vital one for the honor of our
forefathers in the faith; and we
are aware that steps are being
taken to investigate it more thor
oughly. The result of this under
taking will be awaited with inter
est and when it is given to the
world it will, no doubt, show that
the Catholic Church in the United
States has been true to her mis-
sion and that, considering the con-
ditions under which she carried on
her work, she has suffered COM
paratively small losses.
FRENCH FREEMASONRY.