The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-22
ANSWERS BISHOP wHIPPLE.
Father Sherman Writes ON the C1er-
gy of Porto Rico.

gy of Porto Rico.
est. Ignatius College, Chicago. ILL.,, May
21, 1900.
I'm a recent article on Porto Rico sign
ed by H. B. Whipple, the Protestant
Episcopal Bishop Of Minnesota, the fol-
lowing paragraph occurs:
"Of the moral condition of the island
1 need not speak at length. Father Sher-
man and others have told me sad stories
of the immortality of the priesthood and
people. The marriage fees exacted by the
Roman Catholic priests have prevented
multitudes from Christian marriage, and
this has led to much of the awful demon
alizatiou which exists on the island.
In this connection I would like to re-
mark that as / have never met the right
reverend gentleman as far as | remember,
it is, to say the least, misleading to state
that have told him any sad stories about
anything AS for the clergy of Porto Rico,
not a few of them are so enthusiastic and
so jealous, such dear friends of mine,
that l hasten to repudiate any such in
situation in their regard. Father Berries
of Arecibo, Father Serbia of Utuado,
Father Passalagua of Coamo, may be
mentioned among the model pastors and
men of blameless integrity. All of the
fathers of the Congregation of St. Vim
cent of Paul. all the Aesulapian priests,
and the oanons of the Cathedral are men
of holy life and fervent zeal, to say moth
ing of others scattered about the island.
II criticized some of the Spanish clergy
who have departed it was because I
thought religion and politics were too
closely connected in their minds, and be-
cause l felt that they left their posts of
duty when their presence was most need
ed. This makes the conduct of those who
remained in spite OF the loss of
their salaries, the political revolu-
ton, the war and other difhdu.-
ties, doubly creditable and honora e.
These are the men who now constitute
the clergy Of Porto Rico and of those
have never spoken except In praise. In
this connection repudiate that part of
newspaper interview published on my re-
turn to the United States from which the
contrary might be inferred. The reporter
told me afterwards he wished to rouse the
minister and use scare lines; he was not
aiming to tell what / had said to him.
LAS for the charge that the marriage
fees exacted by priests have prevented
marriage, / know this to be .calumny and
L am surprised that Bishop Whipple
could voice so false a charge l am con-
WINGED that he must have been mieled,
as he would not Intentionally make
statement capable of such easy refuta-
ton. The poor are married free every
where in Porto Rico, as in the rest of
the Catholic world.
1.-The want of religious fervor in Porto
Rico is quite sufficiently explained by cli-
matte and racial conditions, fully dis
cussed by the Bishop in his article.
'It is, of course, possible that 1 have
met the Bishop and forgotten the fact,
but the paragraph Is none the less mis-
leading and is substantially incorrect.
THE clergy of Porto Rico of 1900 and
Bishop Whipple writes from San Juan in
1900, are a Jealous, pious, estimable body
of men, many Of them loved and revered
with the utmost devotion by their peo-
pie. and l am sure they are well able to
withstand the attacks of the sects and
maintain the cause of truth among all
who are willing to hear and heed. Pro-
testant missionaries in Porto Rico will
waste their time and money.
Thomas Ewing Sherman, s. J."