Catholic Increase by Editor

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Dec 5, 1878

Catholic Increase.

By Editor

THE New York Tablet, a Catholic paper, November 23, speaking of the Catholic church in the United States, says:—

"In the year 1850—twenty-eight years ago—there were in the entire United States only six Catholic archbishops—one of whom was an American, three of Irish birth, and two of French origin—and twenty-seven bishops. There were 1,800 priests, 1,073 churches, 29 ecclesiastical institutions, 17 colleges, and 91 female academies. There are now 11 archbishops, 5,548 churches, 5,634 priests, 21 theological seminaries, with 1,121 ecclesiastical students, 74 colleges, and 519 academies. Here is a growth in twenty-eight years of 44 prelates, 3,834 priests, 3,475 churches, and 477 seminaries, academies, and colleges. The Catholic population was estimated in 1850 to number 3,000,000 souls; to-day it is known to be not less than 6,408,000, and by some authorities it is believed to exceed that figure by one-half."

It must not be supposed, however, that this increase is by growth in this country. A large proportion of the priests are foreigners, Irish and Italian mostly. But their influence is as great as that of American priests could be—perhaps greater.

They have 74 colleges, 21 theological seminaries, and 519 academies and select schools, besides 2,180 schools of lower grade. Their academies are principally for females, of which the Tablet says, "many of the pupils are the daughters of Protestant parents." And many Protestant parents have lived to deeply regret that they ever sent their daughters to them. The largest of these academies is in San Francisco.

Many other interesting statistics are given in this article, all going to show that the power of the Roman hierarchy is fast increasing in the United States. They are as a unit in politics, and their influence in elections is courted by some and felt by all.