ROMAN CATHOLIC STATISTICS.

Patea Mail, Volume V, Issue 422, 3 May 1879, Page 2

ROMAN CATHOLIC STATISTICS.

[the times.] The new issue of the “ Catholic Directory ” for 1879, published under the authority of Cardinal Manning and the rest of the Heirarchy, contains some interesting facts relating to the Roman Catholic body both in this country and abroad. The name of Pope Leo appears as its head in the place of Pius IX., and this is followed by the list of the Sacred College of Qardinals, in which live vacancies by death have occurred since the accession of the new Pontiff. As Pope Leo has created no Cardinal as yet, there are twelve vacancies waiting to be filled up. There are six “ Cardinal Bishops,” forty-throe “Cardinal Priests,” and nine “ Cardinal Deacons;” and of these three owe their elevation to Pope Gregory XVI., the rest to the late Pope. A full account of the various “ congregations ” or committees, into which the Cardinals are divided for the despatch of business, is now added for the first time. These congregations are nineteen in all, the first being that of “ the Inquisition, or holy office, for examination and heretical and depraved doctrines,” &c., another that of “ the Propaganda for the propogation of the faith and the government of the Church in infidel, heretical, and schismatical countries.” Other congregations are those of“ Sacred RitesofStudies.” of “ The Index, for the condemnation of books and publications contrary to faith and morals;” of “Indulgences and Sacred Relics,” &c.; while other congregations have for their object the care of the fabric of St. Peter, the sanctuary of Loretto, &c. To the English portion of tbe Directory this year is added a full account of the new Roman Catholic Heirarchy in Scotland, which dates its restoration from February last. A brief summary at the end of the volume shows that there are two Archbishops and nineteen Bishops of Great Britain exercising jurisdiction under the Pope, besides one Archbishop and two other Bishops on the retired list. The total of priests in England and Wales is a little over 1,900, and that of churches and chapels a little over 1,120, against about 1,000 clergy and 648 churches and chapels in 1858. In Scotland, which is now divided into six “ dioceses,” there are 272 priests serving 264 chapels and missionary stations. In 1853, these numbered a little over 130* The number

of children in the poor Roman Catholic schools of the metropolis present at the annual visit of the inspector in 1859-60 was 9,414 ; in the year jnst ended, that total was nearly doubled namely, 1.8,417.. .