The Irish standard., 1917-07-07
Numb,
,..l -, nTouceQ


TO Apportionment System in Vogue
Before 1916-An Arbitrary Method
of Decreased Catholic Chaplains.
Just at the moment when the need
for Catholic Chaplains is greater than
it has ever been, when many a Catho-
lie mother who has already given up
her son, or who will shortly be called
upon to give him up, was taking con-
ISOLATION in the probability that the boy
during his military career would have
excellent opportunity to practice his
religion and enjoy all the consolation
OF the Holy Church, word comes from
Washington that the percentage Of
priests among the chaplains with the
national army will be greatly reduced
from the number it has been hereto
fore.
On June 8, 1916, Hon. Newton ID.
Baker, Secretary of War; approved the
plan Of distributing army chaplain
cies, according to the strength Of the
various denominations, and the reason
for adopting this plan, was the fact
that the chaplaincies were very un-
evenly divided among the denomina-
tions. Some had many more and 9th
ers far fewer than they were entitled
to, according to the number of adher-
ents and it was felt that this plan
would be just to all.
This distribution was to be based on
the statistics of DR.. Fl. X. Carroll, a
'non-C Catholic, and at one time special
agent of the United States Census Of
fee, but now in the employ of the
Federal Council of the Churches Of
Christ in America.
On June 8, 1917 { year later), the
Adjutant Generals office of the War
Department issued an official table
showing how the present chaplain va
cancies in the Regular Army, and the
new Army to be formed shortly will
be distributed. One paragraph of this
communication reads as >follOws:
"The Roman Catholics claim all bap
tiled in the Faith as members, where
as other denominations claim only
communicates. Therefore, it is not
possible to give them their ratio, sc
l the old apportionment, sixteen out OF
sixty seven, in vogue prior to June 3
1916 is adhered TO-"
In this arbitrary way the quota OF
Catholic Chaplains is lowered from *
to 80 per cent. Instead of getting fifty
seven chaplains out of the one hun
drcd and fort y-rour to be appointed il
the Regular Army, the Catholic churcl
is offered only thirtyfour.
The same proportion is maintained
for the new Army to be formed.
There is no sufficient reason for no.
basing the Catholic quota on Dr. Car
rolls statistics, for he expressly state:
in the Federal Council Year Book, 1871
(pages 2O4-2O5), that since the Catho
lie Directory includes children Wht
have note yet been admitted to theil
First Holy Communion, he deducts
fifteen per cent, from the Catholic pop
ulation, to place that church on pal
with the Protestant denominations
This explains why he credits the Cath
Ollie Church with only fourteen mil
Unconstitutional the Official Catholic
Directory gives it seventeen millions
l The latest religious census Of the
United States shows, and this census
was taken under Protestant auspices
? that the Catholic people of this coun
: try are at least forty per cent of al
the total church-going population OF
the United States. Sixty per cent Of
all the people never attend any church
.. In making the allotment of chaplains
the War Department evidently is de
termined to count this great majority
: as Professionals. The preponderance O
Protestant chaplains will give the
:, sects a great advantage.
+ Absolute Justice in the assignment
r of chaplains would dictate that a
t least forty per cent Of the chaplain'
! assigned in the new army be Catholics
1 The selectivc draft, taken without re
- gdrO 10 IcIlSlOI, VIII DS eeA"SAA ''N''
r among the whole population OF thu
n United States and will be taken from
8 a church-going population OF the Unit
t ed States and will be taken from
d church going population of whom
|, forty per cent, by Protestant calcula
u ton, and probably larger percent
). age in fact, will be Catholic youni
n men. Catholic priests are at least
y we'll fitted as Protestant ministers t.
care for the dying Of no faith in thei
1t last moments, if our big army see
hard service.
y The Catholic Church authorities i
n various parts of the country, on re
C. ceiving notifications of this discrimins
q ton against the church, have reques
t. ed Secretary Baker to distribute a
10 the chaplaincies on the basis of churc
membership.