Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-01
UNDERTAKES.
A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

Catholic Orders in the Philippines.
One of the most vexatious problems that
the United States government has to solve
in thu Philippines at the present time deals
with the attitude of the friars and certain
Roman Catholic orders in the islands which
show a spirit of INSTRUMENTATION and intol-
erance toward the efforts of this country
to secure civil and religious freedom for
the native inhabitants. correspondent
of The Star. writing from Manila, says
that it is evident the priests belonging to
these orders, as Well the friars who
have obtained immense property interests
during the Spanish regime and who, ac-
cording to general complaint dealt with
the people in most unjust and cruel man
ner, and who have dominated affairs not
only spiritual but temporal, for so long, are
not going to surrender their prestige and
hold without some sort of a protest and an
effort to prot ct themselves. One of the great
est tasks this government has before 1t IS
to make it plain to them that in the future
the church and state are to be absolutely
separated, and that the power which gives
to them the privilege of worshlping and be-
lieving they choose also gives the same
opportunity to every other man, woman
and child, and that interference with that
right upon their part will not be tolerated.
The archbishop of LuZon, it appears has
taken step beyond the limits of prudence
in his efforts to support these orders in
civil and religious affairs, and has brought
upon himself the criticism of many Catho-
lies in the island, especially among the
Americans.
The archbishop according to a publica-
ton in the Manila Times. showed intoler-
ance in indorsing a sermon preached by
one Father Resell and printed, along with
some other articles of a like nature. in the
Liberals, a paper published IN Manila I'M
der the auspices of the Dominicans. The
sermon referred to dealt with the different
degrees of communication and the diff
ferent classes of offenses punishable by
each kind.
The Manila Times, in commenting edi-
tori lily on this says:
The preacher then detailed the offenses
for which persons would be excommunicat-
ed in accordance with the laws of the Ro-
man Catholic Church. Particularly he spe
Gifted that any one contributing so much
as l cent to any Protestant object-schools,
hospitals or anything Protestant-comes
under the worst form of excommunicatton.'
The same applies to any person who as
sists any Protestant work in any shape or
form, and particularly Father Resell spe-
Gifted that all newspapers and publica-
lions which commend Protestants for their
work. or publish announcements of Pro-
testant gatherings, or openly favor here
ties in any way, come under the fercest
communications of the papal bull
This, substantially, is the sermon delv-
cred by Father Resell and published by the
Iibertas' Thereupon, a local newspaper
the 'Comercio, protested. The 'Comercio'
has published notices of Protestant Church
services and Masonic notices and may per-
haps. contribute toward schools and hos
pitfalls that are not Catholic. The Conner
clio therefore protested against being ex-
communicated. Thereupon the archbishop
himself writes to the 'Comercio' condemn
Ing the paper for its attitude and uphoding
the jesuit priest in his Nominations.
NOW, there are many Roman Catholics
among the army of occupation in Manila.
We doubt whether one in a thousand would
indorse what the archbishop and the Jesuit
has said. 1t is not for us to say what is
true Catholicism and what is not but it Is
TOT us to say that the archbishops action
VIII not receive the Endorsement of Roman
Catholics. and while the Roman Catholics
VIII continue to remain Roman Catholics
ana VIII continue to be devout and sincere
CHRISTIANS, the archbishop will not con-
tinue to be archbishop unless he abandons
TINS suicidal policy. We have carefully re-
framed from entering upon an anti-clerical
esainpalgn ana We do not wish to do so now
Numerous articles have been sent To ne
not against Catholics, but against the
!rlars and Jesuits and against the arch
olshop. BE it clearly understood. we draw
very Hard and fast line between So
tarianfsm and religion
we emphatically believe man can he
; ueepiy feIslous and yet deeply anti-cler-
ieal; But we have held back all articles
against the priests because there is trouble
enough In other directions witbout stirring
up rellglous fanaticism sectarian bitter
ness we have appealed on several occa-
~ eHe FFoteStantS. newly arrived in
MANIA, TO repress their ardor and to leave
alone the Catholics previously established
here In justice, we must say the Protest.
anus nave hitherto been moderate az a
RUE, and the authorities also seem to he
giving the Catholic priests every possible
chance. So we appeal to the priests ard
TO the archbishop not to precipitate the
CONNECT His challenge, If taken up in the
aggressive spirit in which it has been given,
would lead to a fierce war of words and
none could tell what would follow The
archbishop and his subordinates must rec
ognize that there will have to be in this
country absolute freedom in religion alb
solute liberty of conscience This intoler-
ance, this selfish struggle to exclude others
VINO nave right to exist, this furious full
mination against all non-Catholics is only
mischievous. 1t is not indorsed by the
catholics: 1t is purely the Work Of the
priests. Those loyal and devout Catholics
amongst the American soldiers all deplore
this medieval madness. Professionalism is
mere now and cannot be excluded any long
err Live and let live The day of mon
opoly In religion has passed and the mon
opolists should recognize the fact and
make no trouble about it. We would ad-
wise and beg the archbishop and his priests
not to precipitate fight by their bigotry
1t Is no doubt very vexing to see a mag
nificent monopoly broken up. Very sad to
lose so unique a position, such power, such
but the time has come when this must
disappear, and they may well recognize
the fact quietly, for fighting will only make
matters worse. Any protesting minister Of
religion who devotes any Of his time to at
tacks on other ministers of religion is un-
peace. And any disturber Of the peace Is
liable to be put out Of the country II he re-
fuses to take warming"
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