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Conversation with Mr. Cranche
Mr. Cranche is a Catholic priest and vice-president of the college of St. Mary at Baltimore. Almost the whole
of the present generation has passed through this college. It was founded forty years ago by Mr. Dubourg, a French
priest. Since then there has been a considerable increase.
Q. How are the Catholics in the United States governed?
A. In the United States there is a metropolitan archbishop who resides at Baltimore, and thirteen suffragan
bishops. When a bishopric becomes vacant, each of the remaining bishops sends a list of three candidates to the
archbishop. It is from among those candidates that the Pope chooses.
Q. Is that procedure a law or a custom?
A. A custom. In theory the Pope's choice is free, but he always does select one of the bishops' candidates.
Q. How are the lower members of the clergy appointed?
A. All the governmental power is concentrated on the episcopate. In Europe the parish priests can only
lose their positions in case of bad conduct. America is regarded as a pagan country where there are no resident clergy,
but only missionaries. The bishops choose these missionaries, appoint them and call them back at their pleasure.
Q. So you have nothing resembling the old French officialities [P footnote: an ecclesiastical judge
under the Ancien Regime] here?
A. No, we have no sort of ecclesiastical tribunal.
Q. Is Catholicism spreading in the United States?
A. Yes, prodigiously.
Q. But is it spreading through conversions, and have you an idea of the number of converts?
A. We have not got an idea of the number of converts; but we know that there are a great many.
Q. I see there are many Protestant children with you. Do they sometimes become Catholic?
Mr. Cranche, with some animation answered, "No."
"At least it is a rare event," he added. "We are careful never to say anything to them against the religion of their
parents. Two children who talked among themselves about points of controversy with the Protestants would be punished.
It is true however that we make them attend our religious services. But their parents know that before they send them
to us."
"But it seems to me that, though you are careful not to talk to your pupils about the Catholic religion, they
cannot live like this in a completely Catholic atmosphere without it producing a strong impression on them in favor of
your doctrines?"
"The impression is strong enough to take away all their prejudices against Catholicism; not strong enough to
convert them. What is more sure of effect is the marriage of a Protestant with a Catholic girl. Such marriages are
forbidden in Europe; we favor them here. We have noticed that when the mother is Catholic, the children always and
the husband often become Catholics. At Baltimore there are a great number of women's organizations concerned with
education. It is not rare to find young girls becoming Catholics."
"Establishments like yours are multiplying from what I have heard in America?"
"This is the first one; it has 180 pupils. There is another in Maryland which is run on the same plan by the
Jesuits, and there is a third in the district of Columbia."
"What is the opinion of the Catholics in America about the power of the Pope and its independence of general
councils?"
"It would be very difficult to say. In America as in Europe there are Gallicans and
ultramontanes. The latter have the Jesuits as leaders. But up till now these questions are only asked within the
circle of those who study theology; the masses have never come into it, and it would be impossible to say what is the
view of the majority."
"Are American Catholics zealous?"
"Yes, I think America is called to become the hearth of Catholicism. It is spreading freely without the help of
the civil power, without rousing hatred, simply by the strength of its doctrine and in perfect independence of the
State."
"Do the people subscribe liberally to church expenses?"
"The clergy are not rich, but have what they need."
"Do you think it is better to meet expenses in this way rather than by enforced contributions?"
"Yes, certainly, in America."
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[Dinner with Mr. James Carroll - see following entry]
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