The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-10
The Archhishop's Contemplated
Trip a Voluntary One.
There Are Many Matters TO Which He viii
Give His Attention.
The Principal One Being In Com
nection With the Changed Con-
ditions Which Will Confront
the Church in Cuba, Porto Rico
and the Philippines.

7 NEW YORK, Jan. "a special to
the Herald from Washington says:
The Herald" correspondent is able,
through the courtesy of a prominent
Catholic clergyman of this city, who,
through his foreign affiliations, keeps
in close touch with Catholic matters
affecting both this country and Eu-
rope, to throw some light on Arch
bishop Ireland's visit to Rome, which
he Is soon to pay. This clergyman
said:
There are so many matters to which
Archbishop Ireland will give his per-
sonai attention while in Europe that it
is hard to specify any particular cause
for his visit. There has been, I am
convinced, no call from the Pope to
visit Rome, certainly not to answer
any charges nor to explain anything in
connection with the course Of the
church in this country during recent
years. Mgr Ireland's visit is volun-
tary, and is, I understand, principally
in relation to the changed conditions
Which will confront the church in Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines.
| AS every one realizes, there must be
many changes in the management of
the church in these islands and in the
| relationship hitherto existing between
the church and Government and be-
tween the church and people, The
peace treaty provides free exercise Of
religion in the islands and a guarantee
that the property which belongs to the
church shall not be taken from it.
There is, however, vast quantity
OF property, especially in the Philip
pines. which nominally belongs to the
church, but to which there are many
claimants.
1T is not this so much as the char
acter of the priests in the Philippines
which is a cause of so much anxiety
to the hierarchy of the United States.
If the islands are to be held by the
United States, as is now almost GER
tain, it is to be expected that they will
be placed under the hierarchy of the
United States.
THE Government will not look with
favor on the proposition to allow the
Spanish priests to remain in power and
office in these islands. While they are
cordially disliked and even hated by a
large body of the natives, they are still
very influential. and. their presence
there would be a constant menace to
d
hindrance to the work of American
izing the islands.
Two priests accompanied General
Merritt when he sailed for the Philip
pines, and they spent some time in
Manila and other islands. One of them
expressed himself in vigorous terms as
to the habits and character of the
Philippine priesthood They are totally
different from the priests of this coun-
try. The priests are almost all friars,
being members of powerful religious
organizations.
AS the organization never dies, they
accumulate wealth very rapidly In
this case they have been assisted by
the Government, which gave the
church vast wealth that had been left
behind by the original owners, who fled
to escape punishment by the rebels.
These lands the church holds on a
tentative title, and it is expected it
will be compelled to surrender a large
quantity Of it either to the Government
of the United States or to the original
owners or their heirs.
During the period of transition from
the Spanish priesthood to the American
priesthood, Archbishop Ireland's pres
ence in Rome will be of the greatest
value, both to the church and the Gov
ernment
This, believe, is the principal rea-
son for this trip-to present the case of
America and the American church to
the Pope, and to explain many steps
which the Government will take in re-
gard to the church in these islands.
There is nothing in regard to the
Catholic University which would incite
,s..4 - VI, Tyv1ix
terday placed a mortgage on it's prop
erty for $165,O0O, but 1 understand it
is to be utilized to erect a building
which is needed as they are very
crowded there. There seems to be no
necessity for adding fuel to the fire
which ragged over the publication deal
ing with the life Of Father Hecker.
Europe takes an adverse view OF
Father Hecker and his work, and
America praises him.
There is no reconciliation in sight,
and a fresh defense would arouse more
bitter criticism.
However strong the American lib
erals may appear on the surface, and
whatever prestige may be attached to
them, France and Europe will always
be conservative, and there are inf1u-
ences at Rome which will never cease
their attempts to thwart the efforts Of
the American liberals"
Archbishop Ireland made sensa-
tional address the last time he was In
Paris He is to speak there again while
in Europe. Perhaps this address will be
as sensational and as productive of
comment as the last"
The coming visit to France of Arch
bishop Ireland and the address which
he is to deliver in Paris before one of
the societies there are expected to
either case a reaction favorable to the
Americans or bring matters to a crisis.
He is highly regarded by the French
Catholics, and the last address he made
in Paris was the subject of much IA
vorable comment, and for time liber-
alism. in the American sense Of the
word. was not regarded with the hor-
ror formerly displayed. The influence
Of this address has partly won OF, and
it remains to be seen If he can re-
vive it.