Catholic World

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 16, 26 April 1923, Page 47

Catholic World

NEW YORK RELIGIOUS STATISTICS. Catholics constitute the largest religious body, numerically, in the city of New York, according to statistics published by the Jewish Tribune, which show that the Jewish population has practically doubled during the past twenty years and that Protestants have failed to maintain an increase proportionate to their numbers. The Catholic population is given as 1,943,730, or 34.59 per cent, of the entire population. Protestants number 1,941,847, or 34.55 per cent. There are 1,643,012 Jews, or 29.23 per cent. The Greek Orthodox Church has 91,450 followers, or 1.60 per cent. Protestants outnumbered Catholics in 1900 by more than 400,000 according to figures given by the Tribune, which indicate that Protestants at that time numbered 1,629,240 and Catholics 1,210,288. There were then 597,674 Jews. THE MAYNOOTH MISSION TO CHINA. Under the heading “Our Reasons for Gratitude,” the November number of the Far Fust, the organ of the Maynooth Mission to China, sets out the following; Since the inception of the Mission God has visibly blessed our work. Each year shows an advance upon its predecessor, and to-day, six years after the founding of our Mission, we have to thank God for — (a) 122 students in our three colleges 62 in St. Columban’s College, Dalgan ; 40 in St. Senan’s, Cahiracon ; 20 in St. Columban’s, Omaha, Nebraska. (h) The foundation of a Sisterhood at Cahiracon to help in our Mission in China. (c) The erection of a house of the Society in Melbourne, Australia. (d) Thirty-two priests in China, together with four Christian Brothers, a doctor, and two lay helpers. ' . (e) The large number of conversions which have been made by our priests in China. (f) The support that has been extended and which continues to be extended to us by the priests in Ireland, America, and Australia. (g) The wonderful generosity of our friends, without whose help and sacrifice our efforts would be in vain. (h) The prayers that have been offered for the work in the convents and schools and the support which the teachers have always given us. <*X*X*X*X*> FRANCE AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. Readers will remember (says the London Catholic Times ) the measures taken by the French Government for the expulsion of the religious Congregations. IVhen the war broke out the expelled religious heaped coals of fire on the heads of their persecutors. At a time when France badly needed defenders the religious came to the help of their country and heroically threw themselves into the breach to defend her. Even the anti-clericals were disarmed by the self-sacrificing work performed for the country at a critical period. A Government Blunder. — Assuredly the narrow-minded-ness of the Government proved to be one of the worst features of authoritative action known in Franco for many years. Foreign countries who learned by experience the excellent qualities of the banished French priests discarded any symptoms of sympathy with her in her distress. Bill Before Parliament. —Of late there has been in France a movement for doing something like justice to the expelled Congregations, and a Bill has been introduced in the Chamber of Deputies to grant authorisation to the Missionary Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. This proposal is a modest, or rather a timid step in the direction of fair play. When, in 1902 the request of 54 Congregations for authorisation was rejected, with , the approval of M. Combes, then President of the Council, a’ reservation was made to the effect that the case of the Brothers of the Christian Schools might be considered \ at some later period if they modified the articles of their conr stitution. • Motive of Proposed Concession. —This is now brought

forward as a reason why the proposed concession should be made in favor of the Missionary Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, but as a matter of fact the motive of the Government is the development of French interests. The Brothers of the Christian Schools have been doing good work abroad and have always been faithful to French traditions, It is therefore proposed to authorise them to organise in France establishments for the training of the foreign missionaries. INDIGNATION RIFE IN MEXICO. Except for their immediate supporters and a number of hangers-on who are on the look-out for jobs, the Mexican Government has no popular support behind it in its drastic policy of expelling the Papal Delegate, Mgr. Filipni, from Mexican territory as an undesirable alien. What it amounts to is that President Obregon and his Government have managed to get themselves into a position where they believe themselves to be safe from attacks (states Catholic i\ews Servin',), London. But not only in Catholic circles, but amongst the people generally, the greatest indignation is felt at the highhanded insult and unwarranted expulsion of the Apostolic Delegate. Both the episcopate and the faithful deplore the offence committed against the Catholic Church. The Archbishops of Mexico, Nichoacan. Guadalajara, Puebla, and Oaxaca, have sent a joint telegram to Cardinal Gaspan i expressing their grief and indignation at the event. he Mexican Knights of Columbus, who are fairly numerous, have also telegraphed their protest to the Carr'”;.' 1 Secretary of State, while the Mexixcan Union „f Catholic AVomen has called upon all the foreign diplomats in the capital, asking them to acquaint their Governments with the facts. Had Mgr. Filippi possessed the higher rank of Nuncio there is no doubt that the diplomats could have intervened on their own responsibility. On the whole, then, Obregon and his Foreign Minister have landed themselves in a bad mess, and the last has not been heard of it. Certain political personages are said to support the Government in its action; but this support, such as it is. is generally believed to have its price. But apart from this, it is not too much to say that the Government s action is deplored by every decent person in Mexico.

MALTESE CATHOLIC WOMEN ORGANISE. Catholic women in Malta are at present actively engaged in organising a branch of the Catholic Women’s League. Miss Kathleen Balfe, international rc'presentative of the English Catholic Women’s League, has been visiting the island to help in forming a local branch of the league. Archbishop Caruana recently presided at a crowded public meeting, at which he referred to the great need of preventing waste in the work undertaken by the Catholic women of Malta. The Archbishop laid great stress on the excellent results achieved by sound organisation, and from this meeting the newly-founded branch of the league can be said to have dated. MIRACLES OF SISTER TERESA ARE APPROVED. A member of the Curia who was present in the Hall of the Consistory, when the decisive Decree approving the miracles (presented for the beatification of Sister Teresa of Lisieux was presented, says that no session has been more moving since, the Decree was presented for the canonisation of St. Joan of Arc. The Pope’s discourse was very touching. The Holy Father thanked God that his Pontificate had been placed under the auspices of Our Lady of Lourdes, and, his Holiness added, the protection of Sister Teresa of the Child Jesus. The Holy Father was visibly moved when he spoke of her humility, her passionate devotion to Jesus Christ, of the charity which inspired her every act, her self-sacri-fice. Father Luca di Maria Santissima, Prior-General of the Carmelites, replied to the Papal discourse. After thanking the Holy Father, the General of the Carmelites drew attention to the extraordinary devotion to the “Little Flower,” which has spread not only through France, her motherland, but throughout the whole of Europe, to America, and the entire world. Among the lay persons who were present at the ceremony were the French Charge d’Affaires and the Prince de Bourbon and his daughter.