The New York herald., 1922-09-29
CATHOLIC WELFARE
WORK TO Be PUSHED
American Hierarchy Declares
It's Activities Have Resulted
in Greatest Good.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2s.--The National
Catholic Welfare Council was author
ized to-day by the hierarchy OF the
Roman Catholic Church of America Ito
continue and to intensity the activities
which have resulted In tn, greatest good
tion. churchmen said, would clear up
uncertainty In some quarters as to the
scope of the Welfare Council.
The announcement was made by
Archbishops Hanna OF San Francisco
and Curley OF Baltimore at the close of
to-days session of the annual meeting
Of the hierarchy. Members of the
hierarchy. composed in the meeting OF
Cardinal O'Connell of Boston, nearly
dozen archbishops and more than fifty
bishops. previously considered reports
on the activities of each department of
the council during the year. These re-
ports, especially along social service and
educational lines. were said to have
shown remarkable accomplishments.
The two archbishops in their an
nouncement said the hierarchy regarded
the Welfare Council as its own repre-
sentative and as the exponent of its
policies In carrying out plans for the
welfare of the Catholic people Of
America along educational social and
related lines.
Sets Doubts mt Rest.
This statement was considered in
church circles as setting at rest doubts
as to whether. in view Of reports from
Rome, the Welfare Council would in
crease or diminish the scope Of It's
activities. Bishop Schrembs of Cleve-
land, who headed the group which re-
Gently went to Rome to obtain views of
the Vatican on the councils activities,
is at the meeting of the hierarchy. and.
although it was not covered by the
official statement of the hierarchy's
action, 1t was understood that he re-
ported on the visit to Pope Plus xI. and
upon the wishes of the Holy Father in
the matter.
The hierarchy decided to take up a
collection in all Catholic churches for
the relief of suffering in Austria. Ger
many and Russia. Bishop O'Connell OF
Richmond. the secretary, transmitted to
all the bishoprics message requesting
their cooperation. The date of the col
lection was set at October 20 or on the
| nearest convenient date. Appeals for
aid recently had been transmitted to the
Vatican by the cardinal archbishopS OF
Vienna and Breslau.
| Bishop Schrembs and Bishop Gala
| glIer Of Detroit were speakers tonight
at a mass meeting under the auspices
OF the National Council Of Catholic
Men. which began its annual convention
here to-day.
The councils educational division was
instructed to lay before the American
public the stand of the Catholic Church
on the general subject of education, and
Ia committee headed by Archbishop
Bowling of st. Paul was named to have
charge OF the work. One of the objects
Of the program to which the committee
will address itself, it was stated, is the
reply to attacks leveled against the
| Catholic school system.
New School of Canon LAW.
Decision to establish a complete
school of canon law at the Catholic
University here was one of the impor-
tant actions of the meeting, according
to the announcement, which added that
the establishment of the school had been
recommended by Cardinal Gasparri, the
papal Secretary of State. Permission
has been given by the Holy See. 1t
was added. for the university to continue
its collections annually In all American
dioceses for a period Of ten years.
Cardinal Gasparri transmitted to the
meeting the greetings of Pope Plus in
cablegram which follows:
''The Holy Father is deeply affected
by the filial homage and devotion OF the
American episcopate. He most sim
cerely hopes that important decisions
will come from the conference of bishops
which will bring great good to the
church In the United States He sends
with most cordial feeling his apostolic
benediction to all the assembled hier-
archy."