Evening star., 1899-04-06
Archbishop Chapelle's Difficulty in
Securing Harmony.
CUBAN And SPANISH PRIESTS
The Former Want the Latter Sent
From the Island.
CHURCH PROPERTY QUESTION
Copyright, 1899, by Charles NJ. Pepper,

|
before him than they have in Cuba. This
Is Archbishop Chapere. the apostolic dele
gate to the West Indies. His presence has
| served to disclose the fierce nature OF the
&c oclesiastical controversy that is raging
The archbishop's work is TO reconcile the
| ahtagonistic elements and to AmericaniZe
| the church in the sense that is understood
| IN the United States when Cardinal Glib
| bchs and Archbishop Ireland are men
| tened Another suggestion has been that
| the apostolic delegate is to Cubanize the
| church, which means simply that he is to
| bring II in harmony with the new condi-
| tlons and with the aspIratin of tha Cuban
people. Both Spanish priests and Cuban
priests al first failed 10 understand the
| broad liberation Of the Americans who
c. me to the island Immediately after the
protocol was signed. They appeared 70
| tn nix that there must he partisa nship in
| rehglon. On this point they have been un-
deceived.
The outside world has known a rit.la Of
| ths confiict between the Cuban priests and
| the Spanish ecclesiastics who are repre-
sented by the bishop of Havana In SAN
isgo the feeling against the archbishop Of
| that diocese Is said to be less intense.
| though the demand is made for his recall
Inc controversy is the historical sequence
I OF the end of Spanish sovereignty in The
| Antilles. II is the outcome Of the union OF
| church and state and tn, political con-
|
| the government. The Cuban priests. after
| long years, feel that their day has come
| Ihey are making this feeling known, re-
| gardless of the hints that they are encollr-
| aging schism.
| Father Marrero Respon.fble
A small group Of the Cuban priests take
| the full responsibility for the issue that has
been raised. Being a group it would hard
| ly be proper TO designate one of them as a
| leader. Yet the controversy cannot be dis
| cussed without some one mentioning the
name of Father Luis Marrero.
He is Cuban bora and educated
ana was formerly a professor in the
theological seminary. II was once the
complaint of the Spanish authorities that
ne educated young Cuban priests much
| in the principles of rebellion as in the cam
ons of the church. That is a testimonial
which he now values more than the tributes
10 his learning. Ii is the practical evidence
oi mis- influence. Father Marrero has a
church. II is in the parish of Cerrn. This
was the wealthest and most fashionable
suburb of Havana. Its residents were both
Spanards and Cubans. but the cultured and
wealthy Cuban families were the more nti-
merous. The church itself is a humble one
il is plain and might be mission in some
obscure village. | found Father Marrero
there one morning. He had been making
visits among his parishioners. card from
young Cuban who had been among the
insurgents was all the introduction that was
necessary. Il baptized the boy" the faith
er said briefly he took the card. Then
he excused himself for a moment while he
ate his breakfast, which consisted of n
cup of coffee and roll. He tossed a rod
to each Of two acolytes telling them jok-
ingly not to gorge themselves. Then he
talked of the Catholic Church in Cuba. its
past ana Its future. AT first he iested about
secular matters. excusing himself for his
worldly disposition. He knew few words
| of English and it pleased him to repeat
them. Father Marrero would not be taken
anywhere for the typical arish priest as
known in the United States. A stubby
beard of three or four days growth covered
mis- face. His Vestments were old and al
most threadbaro. He showed the need OF
needle and thread He was careless of all
these external matters. He showed me
through his little church with pride though
there was nothing in it except some plain
benches and the altar with two or three
sacred paintings. Not much OF a church
for show" he said merrily. ''but the pretti-
est girls in Havana come here"
4 Leader of Men.
Then he laughed and invited me over TO
the parochial residence. 1t was as plain
as the church Two or three rooms with a
few stiff chairs. bookcase and table
filled with books and papers. He jested
about his plain surroundings. but 1t was
not hard to understand the jesting 1t was
a shield for a deep and aggressive nature.
As he talked he became thoughtful and
then serious. His eyes snapped at intervals
and then he would check himself. Looking
at his high and sloping forehead in repcse
it was easy to imagine him what he had
cree been. d learned and Jealous professor
of theology. But when he became animated
1t was easier TO think Of him as fighting
leader of men rather than as priest.
Father Marrero talked of himself and his
associates with the freedom which has
marked all stages of the ecclesiastical con-
troversy. A few weeks after the protocol
was signed a manifesto was issued by the
Cuban clergy. Its substance was that the
Spanish eeclesiastics must go. The reasons
may be summed up in the statement that
having been a part of the Spanish govern
ment system, and having degraded their
priestly office they were not fitted to serve
as ministers of the church in the new
ditions. The bishop of Havana was also
attacked for his pastorates. Weeks after
this manifesto was issued effort was
made to show that IL was not genuine.
Some of the priests disavowed its language.
but in doing so they took occasion TO affirm
its substance. Father Marrero affirmed
both the substance and the language. He
handed me copy with the addresses of a
rumber of the signers. Then Ee told low
the superior ecclesiastical authorities had
always Disseminated against the Cuban
priests and had prevented them from secur-
ing churches. He laughed a little as he
told how he came to be assigned to the
parish of Cerro, when 1t was not supposed
that he would have the opportunity TO ac-
oept One thing. he said. must he done.
That was to give the Cuban priests par
ishes.
Spanish Clergy as a Class.
AS Tor Ine spanish Clerey, ne Wouiu say
nothing against them individually but as a
class they could rot continue the ministers
of the Cuban people He thought, too. that
the bishop ought to return to Spain. be-
cause the bishop was in sympathy with
neither the American authorities nor the
Cuban people. The seminary. Father Mar
rero stated. should be restored to its
former position and should educate Cuban
priests. In few years there would be no
lack of native clergy. OF the Cuban priests
already in orders he said that with very
few exceptions they had the confidence and
the respect of their people. Then he re-
lated some of the incidents of the insur-
rection which had enabled them to keep
that confidence. One was of the parish
priest of town thirty miles from Havana.
His church had been turned into a garrison
and fortified by the Spanish troops. The
insurgents were In the woods not far away.
Some arms were waiting them In The vii
lage.
Their sympathizers could not smuggle the
arms through the lines This Cuban priest
whose church was occupied as a garrison
t,l A,,ri iaic rHs.f tod o. A..