The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-09
TALES OF HUNGER
AND SUFFERING
Received From Cuba, Porto Rico and
the Philippines. !,
THE PRIESTS BEAR HARDSHIPS.
Actual Starvation Is Said to Be the
Condition of Affairs i'll Many In
stances-sug.estio look
ing to Relief.
THE PRIESTS BEAR HARDSHIPS.
fwritten for The I,imes.)
ing TO Relief.

(Written for The Times)
ROME, January 21-Doletul tales OF
hardship or the part of priests are coming
here from Cuta, P5rtu RICO and the
Philippines in great numbers. Actual star
walton is declared TO be the condition in
numerous Instances. In the two hrSt-nain-
ed Islands all priests are affected, but IN
the Philippines Only the secular priests.
The regulars, or friars, in Luzon seem
To be getting on all right, the few THAI
remain. Some eXplanation CT financial
conditions especially as affected by the
change ir sovereignty, will prove of in
tersSt.
In Cuba, the insr!ar government OF
1911 seized property OF the Church that
was valued at about S75.tJo,Gt''- Refusing
to return the same 10y order OF the Span
istl authorities. the inau!ac government
agreed to pay $4,000 annually for the
support of the clergy and Of public Wor-
ship. When An erica superseded Spanish
occupation this income suddenly stopped
and as Cuban Catholics have never been
trained voluntarily to support their
Curches. privation by the priests. in some
cases strvataon, follows. Similar con-
dFtions obtain in Porto Rico
THE CHURCH COMPARED.
Pronerly 10 understand the effects 81
American occupation on the Roman Cath
teresting to compare the posfe!cn OF the
Church in the United States with the
! Church in Continental Europe In Amer
| lea the clergy income is ObtaiDed chiefly
! from voluntary offerings These are
| Church collections. fees fer marriages
| funerals and baptisms, special contrlbu-
! tons. offerings for masses and gifts Tor
| g,etterr1snts. All offerings for masses
| belong to the priests personally. After
! paving the expenses of Church mafnte-
| nance, including the living expenses OF
| the clergy, priests draw salaries which
vary in different dioceses from $500 70
| 400 a year. The same conditions prevail
| in England, Scotland and Ireland
Continental Catholics rarely contribute
| anything to the support of Roman Cath
| oIic priests The past has accumulated
| there INN erlse legacies ard FROM the in
| come of these Tie clergy receive their
| maintenance. Millions Of intentions for
| masses are distributed every year among
| the European clergy. partly from the Do
| cesar authorities but chiefly from the
| Roman congregation of the Vista Apos-
| tolca. which, administers all funds LETT
| for this purpose, funds long ago well
| invested in mortgages on choice real e5-
| tate.
THE FEES VARY.
The fee for these masses varies from
| ten cents to one dollar. Then there are
| invested, funds for the maintenance OF
( parishes as such. and so tie income OF
| any living is weil-known by any one APP
! plying for the same. The canonlcal chap
| ters of the various Cathedrals and cole
| giate Churches are also maintained by
| leeacies and so are the many chaplaincieS
| to be found all over Europe. In France
| and Italy where the Government has
! appropriated the real estate and funds
| belonging to the Church. those govern
ments acting under conco,date with the
| Holy See. pay for the support of religion
I out of the national revenues
| In Italy Cor instance, the Government
long ago deposited bonds with the Vicar
General of the Vatican, and the income
of these gives tn fifty parish priests OF
| Rome stable incomes varying from $3.50
to 500 a year. These sums, to Waich are
added fees received for marriages. hap-
| tisms and funerals, especially the latter,
! make fair incomes. The intention tor
| masses which the priest receives frc NJ
| private individuals or from the Vista
ApoStoica are his personal property, pro-
vided ne pays the paltry salaries OF sex
| ton and the little required for running
the Church. y residence is generally at
| tached. and there he can dwell free of
| rent and taxation. The priests attached
to the many collegiate Churches OF Rome
and the numerous benedciaries attached
to these Churches. are generally not en-
ragged in any parochaI duty, but receive
their support from leSacies from tue Gov
/ ernmert. if any OF their property has
been absorbed by the civil administration,
and from the saying Of masses at SO much
per mass
Much the sanla system prevails IN
France and did prevail in Cuba and Por-
to Rico Before the An. rilan occupation
Voluntary contributions OF COMMUNICATE
members were ali ,ost unknown.
When new conditions came suddenly
,on ord 1T1TT6
Rico requests by thu hundreds came 10
Rome, asking the Holy See TO compel,
| or at least TO use its Influence 10 CONT
pei. the United States Government 10 con-
tinue The salsries Of the priests W;lFn
conditions came to be Better understood
1 as now, the petitions arriving. in Rome ask
for aims. some OF the petitions relating
| ptifu. tales of persona! suffering.
1 \ DIFFICULT PROBLEM.
!, Somewhat different conditions obtain
in the Philippines. There the property of
II the religious orders form what may prove
81 a dangerous problem. These orders are
rich not Only because OF gifts that have
been we'll invested through a long series
! OF Years but because they have. by reaS-
on of the VOWS Of Poverty. all OF their
work done without the payment CT sat-
| aries EliIninatestie Sa.ary problem from
many business concerns AMI the effect
| upon the bank balance would be imme-
I date According &c the report OF ycur
/ Philippine Commission with rrao-t was
very pre- ,;.,,tly in The hands nj the Vat
4 lean authorities, the friars nwn iue 9,0s
1 acres NJ TIE most vs.lI,tle lanis The
i commission named suggests .Shtt the Cni-
i ted States tuy these larf5s frcm ttle or
ders and sell them again to the native
!, holders This schec would please the
religious otders, for it woul:t enrich them
even beyond their present great wealth.
but It would be OF little advantage u the
parishes which are to be handed over q
i the secular clergy.
AS Filipinos are not trimmed to support
i their clergy It Is felt here that 1t will
be ultimately Left TO the .ninited Safes