The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-09-23
ROMAN CATHOLIC POLICY.
WILL NOT BE DISTURBED IN PHIL.
IPPINES AND WEST INDIES
Archbishop Ireland Discusses the
Situation at Length I'm
Chicago Newspaper,

Situation at Length in
Chicago Newspaper.
CHICAGO, 22.-The Times Herald
has the following:
Archbishop Ireland gave the first
definite information yesterday regard
ing the policy Of the Roman Catholic
church in Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippines. 1t includes approval of
the administration plan of leaving the
church question out of peace discus
siOns and announces that the church
in the islands will conform to new con
d1tlons. Coming from the man who
directly represents the pope's plans in
America, the matter is placed above
discussion rt,
The distinguished prelate feels that
the clergy of the new territory has
been inSulted by the proposition to send
a commission of American priests and
bishops to investigate and make recon-
mendations to Rome. He upholds the
men who now occupy high places in
religious circles in the islands. and as
serts they are abundantly able to care
for themselves. They are declared to
be men Of intelligence and fully COM
petent to make their own recommen-
dations.
When the dominion of the United
States is fully established the church
will come under the same laws that
will govern this country and be
separated from the state the same as
it now is in America. Whether the
ecclesiastical Jurisdiction of Cardinal
Gibbons shall be extended to cover at
least part Of Americas new possess
sions is, according to Archbishop Ire
land, still a matter for the holy father
to decide, and at present no American
pTelate knows what will be done.
The archbishop declared that the
present personnel of the clergy in the
islands would be. Qndisturbed He has
been attending the opening exercises
of NOtre Dame university and learned
Upon his arrival in Chicago last night
that talk Of an ecclesiastical commits
sion had been published. While at the
university he was in consultation with
Archbishop Keane.
There will be no such commission from
America to investigate the church in Cuba
Porto Rico or the Philippines he said. ANY
statement that there will be is false and
fair to the clergy in our new possessions.
The Spanish priests will not be requested to
retire for the reason that they, better than
any one else, know what is needed under the
new conditions and can bring about a change
much more easily than any commission that
might be appointed. The clergy in the islands
is made up of men of intelligence and tact.
They will attend to their own work and do it
well. None. Of our priests or bishops could
be at a loss to do as much as the men now
at the head Of the church. You may say that
the priests Of Cuba Porto Rico and the Phil
ippines will be in accord with American ideas
and progression, and it is an insult to those
men to say they will not. Just as they should
be, they will be left to bring about the neces-
Sary change in their own way, and it will be
the best way.
''It is not unlikely that the Angiczing force
Of America will have the same effect in the
church that it has in commerce. By that l
mean our priests will go to Cuba or Porto
Rico or elsewhere of their own accord. If In
the course of months and years they acquire
a good knowledge Of Spanish customs and
language they will undoubtedly be of great
aid. But it may be emphasized that no
priests will be sent. 1t ought to be under
stood that the church in the islands is we'll
OTganZed-just as well there as it is any
place in the world-and will do just as much
for its people as a firmly established religion
can do.
''There need be no concern about the dis
position OF the church when the land In which
it is located becomes a part of the United
States. The same laws that govern here will
govern there, l suppose, and the church will
hold the same relation to the government as
it does at present to the government of the
United States.'
Archbishop Ireland declared as nom
sense the talk that he is soon to be
hOnOred with the robes of a cardinal
He refused to discuss the probability
Of his elevation. He will remain in
Chicago today and leave tonight for
St. Paul.