The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-03-10


matter. It can be no more clearly
stated. perhaps. than by saying that
the Filinino people do want a secular
priesthood of the Roman Catholic
church. represented by men of pure
character and high purpose, and that
they do not want the present system
Of rnonastic orders. This is wholly pat
ent to any honest observer.
IF is hard to believe that a people as
devoted to their religion as are the
Filipinos. who are petitioning head
quarters at Manila for secular clergy,
would threaten to kill the F'riars unless
the latter had given some just provo
cation.
The best informed in Manila seem to
think that our government will have
to deal with this phase of the question
before peace is re-estabished. In a
government that insists on a separa-
ton of church and state as a cardinal
principle, it is difficult to apprehend
how it can deal with the demands of
the FiIipinos. Herein is the delicate
part of Archbishop Chappelles mis-
sion. Should he side against the peo-
pie and insist upon a restoration of the
Friars to their parishes, there is little
doubt in our mind that the government
will interfere, regardless of well set
tied policy to the contrary. On this
point the writer whom we have quoted
above comments as follows:
THE real questions are, Shall the
present order continue, contrary to
the will of the people? Shall the Friars
be expelled and their places be filled
by an acceptable secular clergy who
will deal honestly, justly and in love
and kindness with the people? This is
the demand, and the real question is
that of compliance with it. In this
question the American people are deep
ly interested, whether they be Catho-
lie or Protestant. Will the American
people back UP the Dominican, the
Franciscan or the AuguStinian parish
priest. as did the Spaniards, with bull
let and bayonet? Already, it is said,
the Friars are proposing a return to
their parishes, and demanding their
protection by American troops in the
places to which they go. Already ru-
Filipino people that, if the Friars come
back, they will kill them. Already pc
titions are coming to headquarters for
a secular clergy. A priesthood is want
ed, but the demand is for a secular
clergy whose aims and purposes shall
be the welfare, spiritual and social, of
those to whom they minister"
1t is urged on behalf of the F'riars
that their large accumulation of prop
erty entities them to return to their
parishes and to be maintained therein
by the bayonets of the American army,
if necessary. This is a view of the
matter that we do not share. 1t seems
that there are those who hold to the
fallaoious idea that the property of re-
ligious orders belongs to the members
Of these orders quite Irrespective of the
church and its supreme head. What
ever property the Friars may have ac-
cumulated in the Philippines is church
property, and not Friar property, and
if any or all of these orders should be
required by the Holy Father to with
draw from the Philippine islands, the
disposition of their legitimate proper
ty would rest with the head of the
church and not with the superior of
any order.
Without pretending to pass any opin-
ion on the justice or injustice of the
reasons actuating the Filipinos against
the Friars, it is but just to say that
they have no such hatred for the Je-
suits as they seem to entertain for the
Dominicans, Franciscans and Angus
tinians.
Commenting on this phase of the
question, the same writer says:
Comparatively little complaint is
heard regarding the Jesuits. Their
work, except for missions among the
Mohammedans. has been chiefly along
educational lines. In that department
it has been of great value Their col
lege, library, museum, observatory,
with meteorological observations and
are of incalculable value to the
islands and to any nation which may
possess them. Much of that which
they have received has gone back to
the people increased a hundred-fold."
1t viii thus be seen that Archbishop
will have one element of
great strength to aid him in his work
1t is sincerely to be hoped the whole
matter will be adjusted without giving
occasion or provocation for govern
mental interference