The powers of bishops, and the manner of exercising their authority, are regu lated by the canon law ; their jurisdiction on every point is clear and definite, and leaves uo room for arbitrary enactments or oppressive measures. Yet it is of such a character as, generally considered, can perfectly control the inferior orders of clergy, and secure them to the discharge of their duty. In most Catholic coun tries there is a certain degree of civil jurisdiction allowed to the bishops, with judicial powers, in matters of a mixed character; as in cases appertaining to marriages, where a distinction between civil and ecclesiastical marriage has not been drawn by the legislature. Some offences connected with religion, as blas phemy or domestic immorality, are like wise brought under their cognizance.
Where the succession of the Catholic hierarchy has been interrupted, as in England, or never been established, the bishops who superintend the Catholic church and represent the papal authority are known by the name of vicars apos tolic. A vicar apostolic is not necessarily a bishop—an instance of which we had a few years ago at Calcutta—where the vicar apostolic was a simple priest. Generally, however, he receives episcopal consecra tion; and, as from local circumstances, it is not thought expedient that he should bear the title of the see which he administers, be is appointed with the title of an an cient bishopric now in the hands of in fidels, and thus is called a bishop in par tibus kfidelinm, though the last word is often omitted in ordinary language. A vicar apostolic, being generally situated where the provisions of the caw.. law cannot be fully observed, is guided by particular instructions, by precedents and consuetude, to which all the uniformity of discipline through the Catholic church gives stability and security. Thus the vicars apostolic, who rule over the four episcopal districts of England. have their code in the admirable constitution of Pope Benedict XIV., beginning with the words Aporlolicum ministerium. The powers of a vicar apostolic are necessarily more extended than those of ordinary bishops, and are ampler in proportion to the diffi culty of keeping up a close communica tion with Rome. Thus many cases of dispensation in marriage which a conti nental bishop must send to the Holy See may be provided for by an English or American vicar apostolic ; and other simi lar matters, for which these must consult it, could at once be granted by the eccle siastical superiors of the Mauritius or of China. The nomination of vicars apos tolic is solely with the pope.
The inferior clergy, considered in re ference to the government of the church, consists mainly of the parochial clergy, or those who supply their place. In all countries possessing a hierarchy, the country is divided into parishes, each provided with a parochus or curate,* who corresponds to the rector or vicar of the English established church. The ap pointment to a parish is vested in the bishop, who has no power to remove again at will, or for any cause except a canonical offence juridically proved. The right of presentation by lay patrons is, however, in particular instances fully respected. In Italy the parish priests are generally chosen by competition : upon a vacancy, a day is appointed on which the testimonials of the different candi dates are compared, and they are ex amined before the bishop in theology, the exposition of scripture, and extempora neous preaching; and whoever is pro nounced, by ballot, superior to the rest, is chosen.
Under an apostolic vicariate, the clergy corresponding to the parochial clergy generally bear the title of apostolic mis. sionaries, and have missions or local dis tricts with variable limits placed under their care ; but are dependent upon the will of their ecclesiastical superiors.
Besides the parochial clergy, there is a considerable body of ecclesiastics, who do not enter directly into the governing part of the church, although they help to discharge some of its most important functions. A great number of secular clergy are devoted to the conduct of edu cation, either in universities or semi naries; many occupy themselves exclu sively with the pulpit, others with in structing the poor, or attending charitable institutions. A certain number also fill prebends, or attend to the daily service of cathedrals, &c. ; for in the Catholic church pluralities, where the cure of souls exists, are strictly prohibited, and consequently a distinct body of clergy from those en gaged in parochial duties, or holding rectories, &c., is necessary for those duties. Besides this auxiliary force, the regular clergy, or monastic orders, take upon them many of these functions. The clergy of the Catholic church in the west are bound by a vow of celibacy, not for mally made, but implied in their ordina tion as sub-deacons. This obligation of celibacy is only reckoned among the dis ciplinary enactments of the church. The clergy of that portion of the Greek and Armenian church which is united in communion with the see of Rome may be married; that is, may receive orders if married, but are not allowed to marry after having taken orders. A similar discipline, if thought expedient by the church, might be introduced into the West. The only point concerning the govern ment of the Catholic church which re mains to be mentioned is the manner in which it is exercised. The most solemn tribunal is a general council, that is, an assembly of all the bishops of the church, who may attend either in person or by deputy, under the presidency of the pope or his legates. When once a decree has passed such an assembly, and received the approbation of the Holy See, there is no further appeal. Distinction must be, however, made between doctrinal and dis ciplinary decrees ; for example, when in the Council of Trent it was decreed to be the doctrine of the church that marriage .s indissoluble, this decree is considered binding in the belief and on the conduct, nor can its acceptance be refused by any one without his being considered rebel lious to the church. But when it is or dered that marriages must be celebrated only in presence of the parish priest, this is a matter of discipline not supposed to rest on the revelation of God, but dic tated by prudence; and consequently a degree of toleration is allowed regarding the adoption of the resolution in particu lar dioceses. It is only with regard to such decrees, and more specifically the one we have mentioned, that the Council of Trent is said to have been received, or not, in different countries.