Norwich bulletin., 1914-12-18

Milan has sent the following letter to the pastors of the Catholic churcht es in the diocese of Hartford. The diocese includes the entire state:
 Dear Father: Permit me to place before you as a guide for future ac- ton the reeom1nendztion made at the June retreat in regard to our foreign population. By foreign population is means those whose lAnguag is other than English. When they arc at- taehed to q parish of thesr own na. tf6nality tho pastor of the same is responsiblG for their care, but when there is no such church in tho town ef which they are residents they are speaking pastor 3il whose district they have a donaiclle. These people. it is true, do not usually take kindly to tho obligation of supporting the local church and thew have 9. loose idea of the preeept or assisting at Sunday mass. preferring to ge one Sunday month to a church of their own nationality. if such happens to be in the neiehporhoad. and negiecting mass the other three Sundays. They are not. however. for that reason to be considered as outsiders; the pastor still is bound to provide for their spir- ifua1 wants Every opportunity should be afforded them to receive the saera- naents: 8 priest knowing their lan- gIa&e should be brought from time to .tiff1s to hear their confessions and to give them some instruction. Unless, in case of an extended mission. a priest of this diocese or one labortng in the diocese, should be preferred, and urge and extort such priests to show themselves willing to come to the aid of their countrynen. who may be under the Jurisdiction of a pastor ignorant Of their language.
 Influx of Foreign Catholics.
 We have a difficult problem to contend with in caring for the enor-
 nous influx Of Catholics from other lands who come to our shores, and we have right to the good will and to the help of the clergy of their own particular nationality to supply the wants of their people and place themselves at their disposal when oc- parishes should not cater to English speaking people of other jurisdiction: the custom in national churches of eeferring the sermon until the end of mass to accommodate outsiders caIl- not be tolerated. It is bad for the Enslish speaking people and it is not fair for other parishes or good for the people of the national parish. The English speaking people are thereby deprived ofs instruction, the urgener- ous ones shirlz the obligation Of con- tFibuting to their own church and the young people of the national parish gradually will follow the English speaking portion out at the end of the mass to escape the sermon and they will learn from them how to dodge collections and sermons. This holds good for all churches. The ser-
 mon should be the first gospel.
 No Money for Confessions.
 'It has happened that the parties wishing to make their Easter duty or preparing for the sacrament of marriage have found the way to the confessional blocked by the priest of their own nationality demanding compensation in the way of contrihu- tion for his church or a fee for him.
 self before consenting to hear their confessions.
 If a case of this sort is brought to my attention and the testimony Of the parties concerned bears out the
 charge I shall withdraw the faculties of the offending priest.
 "As English speaking people have many opportunities of going to con- fession, they properly may be ex- ciuded freJn national churches and it were better so. for the congrega- ton naturally wish to monopoiize the service of the priest whom they pay
 and they complain if they are kept
 waiting at the only confessional which is open to them by those who have the choice of a dozen or u1oTe con- fessors. Those who do not speak disadvantage and at the risk of in- convenience their spiritual needs should be attended to.
 Should Be No Collection.
 "it has been customary for English
 speaking pastors to call in the. foreign priest to hear confessions of his couIl- trymen Curing. the Easter time and
 allow the people benefited to take up
 a collection to pay for his services.
 This custom is wrong and should be l stopped. No one should be obliged
 to pay for the benefit of confession: all should support the church and the pastor, and he should provide for their spiritual wants by another if he is not able to care for them himself.
 He should give liberal 1onapensa-
 ton to the priest who takes the duty
 he is not able to discharge, and even with financial loss should see that no member of his flock is neglected. But the probability ef financial loss will be only temporary. These people in bestowed on them. They not only
 will attend mass where they belong but will contribute to the various needs of the parish otlce they reaiixe
 that they have all the privileges of membership.
 May Expect Criticism.
 tWe shall be criticised for apply ing this plan of providing for the care of our foreign population by those who assume that they own them. Ger tain goctet1es, newspapers and ciidues will continue to advise them to mis-
 trust the native clergy and to act ependently. having in view a fu- ture parish organization which never may exist.
 Their best plan to prepare for fu- tilre antonorHy is just the contrary: 1 they should become active members
 Of the local parish. thus showing their fitness for managing their own affairs by submission to proper authority Anyone who has a sincere wish for l the welfare of these people can see that the most effective means of ob- taining recognition and regular care l is to have one pastor responsible to whom they acknowledge allegiance until they will have been assigned to the care of another.
 Our efforts may be opposed by cer- tain priests who have left their owr dioceses for the good of the same. and seek to esta bliElf themselves here. They may be opposed by certain others in eecd stAndinz, but who mistake the narr0w lines of national politics for ecclesiastical zeal Patriotism is good but religion iS better, and both have been made tor suffer in the scramble | fDrs fffhMS [ am caauiTafsad that wya1'