The Life and Times of John Carroll; Archbishop of Baltimore, 1735-1815 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1922. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXXIX THE LAST YEARS (1811-1815) Archbishop Carroll was invested with the pallium on August 18, 1811, by Bishop Neale.1 His position as first metropolitan or chief shepherd of the Catholic Church in the United States was at last made officially public, and the organization of the American hierarchy finally completed. The United States at this time comprised a single ecclesiastical province, divided into five dioceses, with a sixth in process of formation for Louisiana. As Ordinary of his own Diocese of Baltimore, Dr. Carroll had all the obligations and the burdens that are common to every bishopric. As Metropolitan of the United States, it was to Carroll that the other bishops looked for guidance in all matters touching the Church within the nation. He was the ordinary and immediate superior of the American bishops, though his jurisdiction did not extend to their subjects. In matters concerning the national Church he was the presiding judge, and it was to Carroll that the Sacred Congregation de Propaganda Fide looked for all official information concerning the Church in general in the United States. All national Catholic matters passed through his hands to the Holy See. When the bishops separated after their consecration at Baltimore in 1810, it was agreed that a Provincial Council would be held in November, 1812. Had this council taken place, there is no doubt that the organization of the American Church would have been blessed with a more efficient general administration than it possessed during these last years of Dr. Carroll's life. Two obstacles prevented the holding of the Council: the War of 1812 and the captivity of Pius VII. It was only after long years of growing bitterness and resent 1 The pallium was brought to Baltimore by the British Minist...