The Numerical Strength of the Papacy
According to the Catholic Mirror, the numerical strength of the papacy in this country is 11,289,700. There are one hundred prelates, including the cardinal, archbishops, and bishops. The following paragraphs are from the Mirror:— There are 9,742 clergymen subject in all things to the immediate jurisdiction of the bishops; and subject to them also in all that concerns parochial ministration, 3,225 members of religious communities in holy orders. These 12,967 priests minister to 11,289,710 members, who worship in 7,005 of our churches and 3,873 chapels. There is no lack of candidates for the ministry, 13,382 actually preparing to be secular priests and 1,931 religious in the seven universities and 71 seminaries. There are 162 colleges for males, and 643 academies for females. These schools are maintained in great part by 5,000 men, not only in holy orders, but dwelling in community, usually called Brothers, and 50,000 women, the nuns or Sisters, who also aid the clergy in the schools and charitable institutions, conducting, with proper lay assistance, 3,978 parish schools with 963,683 pupils, and 923 institutions with 1,113,031 inmates. Not least in importance are the laity, who support pastors, churches, schools, and other institutions, and who devote time as well as money working as members of charitable, benevolent, social, and literary associations. Besides the many pious sodalities or confraternities, some of which exist in every parish, there are at least twenty great national organizations of men and women, growing in numbers and efficiency every year, and in order to work still more efficiently, all the societies of men, numbering fully two millions, are forming a federation, which will be perfected in another year. It is evident that Catholics are aiming to put their numerical strength in this country to the most effective use.