SPOLIATION OF THE PROPAGANDA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 6, 30 May 1884, Page 27

SPOLIATION OF THE PROPAGANDA.

(London Tablet's translation.) The Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda has addressed tbe following most important Circular Letter to the bishops of the Catholic world :—: — Most Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord, — Your Lordship is aware of tbe judgement which was delivered on the 29th of January last by the Supreme Court of Cassation of Rome, in full session of all its divisions, on the convertibility of the estate of this Sacred Congregation. According to that decision, which has alredy been sufficiently judged by public opinion, the Propaganda is considered as similar to particular and local ecclesiastical institutions, and on that ground to come under the law for the conversion of the patrimony of such bodies within the Roman province (law of 19th June, 1873). Now, as your Lordship is well aware, the nature of this institution, most undoubtedly international, is quite different, whether with regard to the missions entrusted to it or to the source of the funds which constitute its patrimony. The Act of foundation by which Gregory XV., of holy memory, initiated this splendid work, the glory alike of the Holy See and of Italy ; and the series of Pontifical Constitutions issued with respect to it during the two-and-a-half centuries of its existence, even through tbe most violent European crises, had already sufficiently made clear to the whole world that the Pontiffs had established this institution with the exclusive object of making it the instrument for the efficacious exercise of their apostolic ministry by the propagation of the faith over the face of the whole earth ; and with this view they conferred on it the most ample and extraordinary powers. To secure to it full freedom in the exercise of so sublime a task, they themselves were tbe first to furnish it with pecuniary means, and it is with this view also that the faithful of all countries have willingly and eagerly joined together to increase its patrimony, which was not destined for the advantage of one nation osly, but for the good of all humanity. It is, therefore, clearly evident that tbe above judgment does not strike at the property of a particular institution, but injures the capital exclusively destined to the exercise of the apostolic ministry itself of the Roman Pontiff for the conversion of nations to the light of the Faith and civilisation. And this, either by exposing the Propaganda to the danger of seeing some time or other its property perish wholly or partially in consequence of not improbable events ; or by making the payment of its funds dependent upon the will of parties in power, and a matter of a most deplorable uncertainty ; or, finally, and above all, by depriving it of the free disposal of its resources — a freedom which is absolutely necessary to it on account of the necessity of taking the initiative inseparable from the very nature of the institution, and the frequent occasions on which it has to meet the extraordinary needs of divers missions. The Holy Father, most deeply grieved by this new and overbearing attack on the imprescriptible rights of his apostolate, and foreseeing the deplorable consequences which will arise from, the conversion of the present patrimony of the Sacred Congregation — a patrimony, moreover, already alienated for the greater part by the Government " lite pendente" — feels it his duty to provide in tbe best possible manner for the future security of so deserving |an institution. With this object he has, therefore, deigned to- command me to declare, ,as I now do by this present circular, that henceforth the administrative seat of the Propaganda for all donations, legacies, and offerings by which the piety of the faithful may wish to meet the constant and considerable expenditure of the institution is transferred out of Italy. And for the greater general convenience he has decided to establish in different parts of the world centres or Procurations, where tbe offerings of the faithful may be put out of all danger, and be at the free and independent disposal of the Sacred Congregation for the benefit of the missions. These Procurations are indicated in the annexed note, with which your Lordship, as well as with this circular, will make all the faithful confided to your care acquainted. I hold in reserve the right of communicating to you further instructions shouid occasion for them arise. The Sacred Congregation, however, entertains the firm conviction that this new blow struck at tbe Church, far from weakening the piety of Catholics, will excite them, on the contrary, to meet powerfully, and with an ever-increas-ing generosity, the needs of missions — needs which are daily becoming more imperative and more numerous. In tbe meantime, etc., John Cabdinal Simeoni, Prefect. f D. Archbishop op Tybe, Secretary. From the Propaganda, March 15, 1884.