CHAPTER VI.

VERY REV. JOHN CARROLL, PREFECT-APOSTOLIC OF THE UNITED STATES, 1784–1790.

ON receiving the documents investing him with spiritual authority over the Catholics in the United States, the Very Rev. Dr. Carroll prepared a circular to be transmitted to each priest. In the draft of one, which was apparently not used, he discussed at length their dependence on the Propaganda.

"I consider powers issued from the Propaganda, not only as improper, but dangerous here," wrote Dr. Carroll. "The jealousy in our governments of the interference of any foreign jurisdiction is known to be such, that we cannot expect, and in my opinion, ought not to wish that they would tolerate any other than that which being purely spiritual, is essential to our Religion, to wit, an acknowledgment of the Pope's spiritual supremacy, and of the See of St. Peter being the centre of the Ecclesiastical Unity. The appointment, therefore, by the Propaganda of a Superior for this country, appears to be a dangerous step, and by exciting the jealousy of the government here, may tend much to the prejudice of Religion, and perhaps expose it to the reproach of encouraging a dependence on a foreign power, and giving them an undue internal influence by leaving with them a prerogative to nominate to places of trust and real importance, and that 'ad suum beneplacitum.'

"The Congregation of the Propaganda, if I understand its institution, was formed only for the government and super

intendence of missions, &c. and I observe, that they affect in their commission to me and other acts, to call our ecclesiastical state here a mission; and the laborers therein missioners. Perhaps this denomination was heretofore proper enough; but it cannot now be so deemed. By the constitution, our Religion has acquired equal rights and privileges with that of other Christians: we form not a fluctuating body of laborers in Christ's vineyard, sent hither and removable at the will of a Superior, but a permanent body of national clergy, with sufficient powers to form our own system of internal government, and I think, to choose our own su perior and a very just claim to have all necessary spiritual authority communicated to him, on his being presented as regularly and canonically chosen by us. We have further a reasonable prospect, which I soon hope to see realized, of forming an establishment for educating and perpetuating a succession of clergy among ourselves; and as soon as that measure is in a promising forwardness, we shall have a right to a diocesan Bishop of our own choice. 'Ought not the immense territory possessed by the United States to have an Ecclesiastical Superior as independent as the Bishop of Quebec?' says one of our zealous friends in England."

The fear of their having some stranger forced on the Catholics of this country as their Bishop had not been laid aside: "I am, moreover, advised by Cardinal Antonelli, that his Holiness intends to appoint hereafter (but no term mentioned or even insinuated) a Vicar-Apostolic with Episcopal character, and with such powers as may exempt this country from every other Ecclesiastical dependence, beside that on the aforesaid Congregation. But not the slightest intimation is given of the person designed for that preferment." "We shall in a few years stand in absolute need of a Bishop, but that a Bishop Vicar-Apostolic would give great umbrage, on

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account of this entire dependence, both for his station and conduct, on a foreign jurisdiction: he must be a diocesan Bishop, and his appointment must come neither from his Holiness, for that would create more jealousy in our government, than even in France, Germany or Spain, nor from the Assemblies or different Executives . . . . but he should be chosen by the Catholic clergy themselves."'

The position into which the Catholic body in the United States had been forced by the wretched intrigue to impose a foreign bishop on them was a sad one. But as the acceptance of the Prefecture by Rev. Mr. Carroll would pave the way to a more satisfactory organization, while his refusal to undertake the duty imposed upon him, would almost certainly result in the imposition of some stranger on the Catholics in the United States, he yielded to the arguments of his fellowclergymen and decided to accept the onerous position.*

On the 27th of February, 1785, he addressed Cardinal Antonelli, Prefect of the Propaganda, apologizing for the delay, returning thanks for the good-will shown him personally, and for the interest manifested in the advancement of the Catholic cause in the United States; and he begged him to convey to the Sovereign Pontiff his absolute devotion to the Holy See, and his thanks for the important trust confided to

1

Very Rev. J. Carroll, Draught of a circular letter announcing his ap pointment as Prefect.

"Nothing but the present extreme necessity of some spiritual powers here, could induce me to act under a commission, which may produce, if long continued, and it should become public, the most dangerous jealousy."-Very Rev. Dr. Carroll, MS. draft of a circular announcing his appointment as Prefect. The Rev. Messrs. Lewis, Molyneux, Farmer, Leonard Neale, and others had urged him to send his acceptance at once; but it is evident that some, still distrustful, regarded Dr. Carroll's appointment only as temporary, and an entering wedge to despoil the Church of its property. See letters in "U. S. Cath. Mag.,” 1844, pp. 798, etc.

him. He expressed his sense of his lack of mental and bodily qualifications for the faithful discharge of the duties. To give an accurate condition of the state of affairs would require statements that might not be pleasing and might seem lacking in respect to the Holy See; but he was not deterred by these considerations from the conviction that nothing could be safely or efficaciously done for the Church in the United States until the actual condition was clearly understood.

He then showed how formerly Maryland and Pennsylvania were the only two colonies where Catholics were allowed to reside, and even there were excluded from any civil or military office. Since their deliverance from the British yoke Catholics could, unmolested, assemble for divine worship in any of the States. "In most places, however, they are not admitted to any office in the State unless they renounce all foreign jurisdiction, civil or ecclesiastical," so that Catholics were virtually under civil disabilities in most of the States, enjoying fully the rights of their fellow-citizens only in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. "But," he added, "how long we are to enjoy the benefits of this toleration or equal rights, I would not dare to assert. Many of our people especially in Maryland fear, that we shall be absolutely excluded from holding office; for my own part, I have deemed it wiser not to anticipate evils, but to bear them when they come. I cherish the hope that so great a wrong will not be done us: nay more I trust that the foundations of religion will be so firmly laid in the United States, that a most flourishing part of the Church will in time be developed here, to the great consolation of the Holy See.

"The Church of England had been the dominant body, directed by ministers dependent on the Bishop of London, but after the war, they were not allowed to depend on an

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English or any other foreign bishop. They were free to appoint and elect bishops of their own, as they had in fact done, although none had yet been consecrated according to their rites. They have adopted a form of government for their church, and desire it be called and to be national, in that it admitted no foreign Superior, that they may be freed from such fears for the future as many Catholics felt.

"The most Eminent Cardinal may rest assured that the greatest evils would be borne by us rather than renounce the divine authority of the Holy See: that not only we priests who are here, but the Catholic people seem so firm in the faith that they will never withdraw from obedience to the Sovereign Pontiff. The Catholic body, however, think that some favor should be granted to them by the Holy Father, necessary for their permanent enjoyment of the civil rights which they now enjoy, and to avert the dangers which they fear. From what I have said, and from the framework of public affairs here, your Eminence must see how objectionable all foreign jurisdiction will be to them. The Catholics therefore desire that no pretext be given to the enemies of our religion to accuse us of depending unnecessarily on a foreign authority; and that some plan may be adopted, by which hereafter an ecclesiastical Superior may be appointed for this country, in such a way as to retain absolutely the spiritual jurisdiction of the Holy See, and at the same time remove all ground of objecting to us, as though we held anything hostile to the national independence. Many of the leading Catholics thought of laying this before his Holiness in a general Memorial, especially those who have been either in the Continental Congress or the legislature of Pennsylvania and Maryland: but I induced them to refrain from any such step at least for the present. The Holy Father will perhaps see more clearly what is to be done in this matter, if