The Growth of Romanism in America
By Editor
THE following, from the Catholic Review of October 12, will give some idea of the growth of Romanism in this country during the last century:— "Cardinal Gibbons has just issued a pastoral letter on the centennial of the hierarchy in the United States, to be held at Baltimore, beginning November 10. In glowing language he notes the life and services of the patriarch of the church in this country, Archbishop John Carroll, who was named Bishop of Baltimore in November, 1789. At the time of his consecration, in 1790, there were but forty thousand Catholics; to-day there are at least nine millions. Of priests there were but thirty, now there are eight thousand. The churches were very few. Georgetown was the solitary college in the country, and there was neither a Catholic asylum nor hospital throughout the broad land. In our day the republic is blessed with ten thousand five hundred churches, twenty-seven seminaries are exclusively devoted to the training of candidates for the priesthood, the single college of 1790 is now increased by 650 other institutions of higher education, colleges and academies that are daily growing in number and influence. There are three thousand parochial schools doing noble work for Christian education. The hospitals and asylums number 520, though not one existed a century ago. This is a marvelous increase, and the progress made must make the heart of every Christian rejoice. The army doing service for God and ministering to man is beautiful to behold. In authority over the ranks are thirteen archbishops and seventy-one bishops. At the centennial celebration the cardinal states that the pope will have a distinguished representative. The cardinal archbishop of Quebec will attend, and Mexico will be represented. Of the episcopacy of the United States seventy-three archbishops and bishops have already signified their intention of being present." However much we may take issue with the Review as to the republic being blessed by this growth of Romanism, and with the statement, "The progress made must make the heart of every true Christian rejoice," we are compelled to admit that the Catholic Church is a power in this country, and that its growth has been remarkable. But in our opinion, instead of being a blessing, it is a menace to our free institutions.