The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-21
CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CUBA.
ARCHBISHOP IRELAND's STATE
MENT REGARDING THEM.


Complete Protection of All Proper
ties and All Persons Is All the
Catholics Ask - Church Question
VIII Not Be Considered by the
Commissions Fully Regulated
When the Stars and Stripes Are
Raised over "A Territory = Church,
Demands No Favor or Privilege,
But Only Liberty and Protection.
Catholic Church VIII Flourish In
Cuba.
Washington, Aug. 2O.-Archblshop Ire
land, who has been in this city for sew
eral days, left tonight. During his stay
he has had number of conferences with
President Mckinley with whom his rela-
lions are of the most cordial character.
The archbishop has declined to discuss
the significance of his calls upon the
President, but 1t has been generally I'M
derstood that he was acting in the inter-
est Of the Catholic Church as to its pro-
lection in our new possession.
Archbishop Ireland dismisses as with
out foundation the statements that church
matters are liable to cause dissensions.
To the Associated Press tonight he
made the statement which follows: THE
church Question in our new possession Of
fers no difficulty whatever. Two princi-
pies are already settled by the constitu-
, tion and laws of America. There will be
no union of church and state such as is
established by customs In GER
tain Catholic countries of
Europe; there will be a complete protec-
ton of all properties and of all persons
With such principles Catholics in the
United States are satisfied, and Catholics
in our new possessions will be satisfied.
The so-called church question need not
be considered by military or peace com
missions. 1t is fully regulated the mo-
ment the flag of this country is raised
over territory. The people of our new
possessions understand, 1 am sure, this
matter very well and will loyalty accent
the situation. 1t may not be very easy
for them at first to adopt themselves in
all cases to this situation; but the en-
barrassments felt will be but temporary.
The people will soon realize that il
Is their duty to support relig-
ion by voluntary and personal
contributions In the greater number of
parishes, moreover, church properties
yield ample revenue to meet all expenses.
The church everywhere in our new pos
sessions is thoroughly organized; it means
no missionary or experimental ASPECT: but
has the full form and the full strength of
complete organization, and is we'll pre-
pared to care for all her interests without
the help of state or charitable aid It
demands no favor, no privilege-naught
but liberty and legal protection Of the ma
tonal and civil rights of its members
Certain people who talk of those terrific
ries as fields for missionary efforts from
the United States do not know what they
are talking about. They might with as
much sense organize missions for the con-
version of the Catholics of Washington
as for the conversion of Catholics Of San
tiago, Havana or San Juan-and their Ia
bors would have as much prospect of
success an Washington as in those cities
OF Cuba or Porto Rico. The separation
of the countries of South America from
Spain and Portugal brought no change of
religion; nor viii the separation of Cuba
and Porto Rico from Spain bring any
Indeed, the Catholic Church will flourish
better in Cuba and Porto Rico than in
other territories, formerly colonies of
there will be for her the liberty and the
stability of order which our flag guaran-
tees.
Cuba and Porto Rico form an ecclesias-
teal province with the Archbishop Of San
tiago as metropolitan, and suffragan bish-
ops at San Juan and Havana. This prov
ince viii take its place in the American
hierarchy, just as do the province of Bal
timore and that of st. Paul, making the
fifteenth ecclesiastical province in the
United States and bringing to our Catho-
lie population an addition to 500O0O-noG
to talk of the islands in the Pacific; so
whatever else will come to America from
the late war, considerable increase of num-
bers and power will come from it to the
Catholic church. AS a Catholic 1 am
very much satisfied with the way things
have been going-and as an American, l
am, of course, thoroughly satisfied. But
If l were to speak at length of my feel
ings as an American, the interview would
be too lengthy, and I win stop at the re-
llgious feature of the situation"
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