Archbishop Ireland's Cuba Commission and Papal Influence
By Editor
*Last week we printed the word of the Independent** that “Archbishop Ireland is going to Cuba, commissioned by the President, to inquire concerning the allotment of Church property and other matters of interest to the Catholic Church.” About a year ago an Italian was taken from the Catholic University and appointed bishop of Havana, because his “especial knowledge of the United States Constitution” would be of value in matters of Church property there; and now the President commissions Archbishop Ireland to Cuba concerning Church property and “other matters of interest to the Catholic Church.” It should also be borne in mind, with these items, that Archbishop Chapelle is appointed by the pope apostolic delegate to Cuba*, Porto Rico, and the Philippines. With Archbishop and Apostolic Delegate Chapelle, the President’s adviser concerning matters of interest to the Catholic Church in the Philippines, and with Archbishop Ireland, the President’s commissioner concerning matters of interest to the Catholic Church in Cuba, if now the President would take up some other archbishop, cardinal, or apostolic delegate as his adviser concerning matters of interest to the Catholic Church in the United States, he would occupy a position relative to the Catholic Church, second only to that of the pope. And at the rate of procedure of the last two years, how long will it be before that point shall be reached? By the instrumentality of the United States these are great days for the papacy.