New-York tribune., 1900-03-04
RELIGION IN THE PHILIPPINES.
PROBLEMS WHICH THIS COUNTRY MUST FACE
OVER THERE.
a. g. Robinson I'm The Independent.

a. q. Robinson in The Independent.
confront s us in R p pe ag t Questions
is, more than all others, most pre- with
Pop is Ss roH5 &G Thd
islanders are not TO be classed as heathens. ig-
wood and stone They are no more heather than
and in Cuba the religious problem a compara-
lively simple one. so far its complicati tion with
those countries between the Church and the State
h MAS lnthate But the relations Of the Church to
which exist IN the Philippines In the Vest indies it
hands Of the Roman CATHOLIC ckapGh dsndfy m as
sdance GhqFsh Is g Fbs In IN the the PhPPnes that
sn9 shs IN "r the k the Augustns
In this Connection one point ia" is esarx noticeable
The West West Indians religion meant little to him
RI Rico s and Cuba | found pronounced Indifference
10 r6nt 6a4Feh IN matters ,t among the people
igloqs 1s that of Roman Catholicism, means much to
faithful in their attendance upon church wdrsb ARE
not only on Sunday but as we'll upon the pre-
door in IN Manila At any time of day during s'0 the
WeeF we X, me me majority OF men who pass will ne
e. any , church during the earlier hours OF Sunday
IL VII be found well filled. often uncomforably so
To an ,unprejudlced observer it would seem that
with religious teachers whom they Win res6ecf
later buildings eeoteS bv Remsn be
and for Roman Catholics might we'll be con-
Nc Church properly @ held Nq@an bg monastic Ga1hG
orders belonging TO that Church is to ba
could be transferred TO the ownershi, 81 the he
mother Church is matter for determino tion 'he hv
eccleslastcal councils II there be no establisbea
rule nI PROCEDURE and no adequate precedent 1t Is
ment should interfere and order any defnite forro
OF settlement Law courts may determine dues-
LIONS OF titles II claims be set up for any of the
But. good title being shown the United Stats Us
only uphold those titles regardless OF those in
whose hands the titles may lie. Much Of II there
determination. ' e0''eSi"s'icai
The more important question is the minjstrotion
TO the people of the Philippines II Is a manfnet
wrong 10 fost upon them an unacceptah hIe prizes +
nooa. a priesthood IS wanted. is needed The
cIearest and wisest course would seem to he The
immediate establishment of men and q sVetaIo mo
which would be acceptable and satisfactory to the
people Apologists for the existing order of tbipne
insist that the present institution is efficient and
iiGa5ohapLy iree from faults That avoids the main
protest and revolt. It seems most urwIse and I'M
polite TO insist upon the, retention OF an OBJ
such system the United States would he forced
to interfere If reyots to come In the
future as they have in the past, the matter would
concern the peace and order OF the Islands, the
life and property OF citizens. come OF whom vouIS
have no concern In the affair.
Wnlle the pathway to solution Of the problem
would doubtless prove thorny and deyiols ths
solution itself would appear to be reasonably sinnia
The determination Of property ownership must resi-
authorized to pronounce final Judgment. An ac-
eeptable priesthood and system should be provided
Tor the people The basis must. Of course. be the
dom and the maintenance. by each Iganization o,
its own institutions. These facts should be recog.
nized by Pope Leo, and his influence and power
be some cost OF property to particular monastic
orders Churches. whether Roman Catholic or
the uplifting of and for the maintenance
or enrichment OF priestly orders.