PM. Ponenza [prepared for the CG of 22 September, then postponed until 23 September 1817], dealing with the bishopric of Québec, in 34 paragraphs. Paragraph 34 contains 11 queries to be answered by PF. The bishopric of Québec, mainly described on the basis of Plessis's letter of 14 September 1814 [see C 045] consists of Upper Canada, Lower Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Prince Edward Island, Cape Breton Island; some 300,000/400,000 Catholics; one bp. [Plessis], one coadjutor [Panet], bp. of Saldes; 180 priests, including three male (the Québec, Montréal and [Saint-Jean-de-]Nicolet seminaries) and three female (Ursulines, Hospitalières [Augustines de la Miséricorde de Jésus, Religieuses Hospitalières de Saint-Joseph], secular [Congrégation de Notre-Dame, Soeurs Grises]) communities; Indian missions, Protestant influence, mixed marriages.
Two Anglican bishoprics, in Halifax (established 1789 [recte 1787, with Inglis]) and Québec (established 1793 [with Mountain]), but few churches and ministers. The bp. [Plessis, in his letter to Caleppi of 12 September 1809; see C 036] requested to subdivide his diocese into a number of bishoprics, or at least that three coadjutors be appointed. The British Prime Minister [recte Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs], Castlereagh [R. Stewart], wrote to the Secretary of State [Consalvi, on 30 April 1817; see SOCG 066] that his court wished to appoint vicars apostolic in Nova Scotia (Burke), Upper Canada ([A.] McDonell), and Prince Edward Island ([A.B] MacEachern).
The bp. was informed on 9 August 1817 [by Litta; see Lettere 059]. In his letter of 13 [recte 23] November 1814 [see SOCG 061], the bp. suggested that Anticosti and a part of the Labrador coast be placed under the jurisdiction of the vicar apostolic in Newfoundland [Scallan]. The bp. also listed a number of queries relating to episcopal authority, attitude towards Protestants, baptism, marriages, the holiday of the Assumption. He also requested marriage dispensations and indulgences. R: [1] On mixed marriages, Benedict XIV's instruction re Holland is to be implemented; [2] No decision [on Plessis project for a subdivision of his diocese], whereas a decision was already made for Nova Scotia [in the CG of 19 March 1817; see Acta 032-034]; [3]
No decision [on vicars apostolic in New Brunswick, Iles-de-la-Madeleine, Cape Breton Island, Upper Canada, Lower Canada]; [4] Write to the vicar apostolic in Newfoundland on his suggested jurisdiction over Anticosti and Labrador; [5-9] various answers [on episcopal authority, attitude towards Protestants, baptism, marriages, the holiday of the Assumption]; [10] [marriage dispensations] granted; [11] [indulgences] to be submitted to the Pope [Pius VII]. Signed by Litta. Bs: fol. 892v, 901r.
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