Evening star., 1902-03-04

WuUIu uc Aldu 0CISCup 0tAl N0AuhidA 1taAA1-
polla will have every chance Of doing SO.
and II he, because of his Office, should take
the measures which would offend the friars
in the Philippines and render their support.
ers In Rome discontented 1t is only natural
that he should hesitate and temporize. Ac-
cording to the most authoritative sources
this is the reason he would prefer that the
measures taken with regard to the religious
orders should appear to be imposed upon
the Vatican by the American government:
Judging by what he says, he Is animated
by the most friendly feelings toward the
United States. In the course Of conversa-
tion with me on this subject he said;
Sbaretti's Mission.
"There is no mystery about the instruc-
tions which the Vatican will give to Mon
sighor Sbaretti, the new apostolic delegate
to the Philippines. although I think 1t best
that some details should remain private,
because otherwise it would render his task
more difficult with the clergy there. The
whole and chief stress Of his instructions, l
may say. lies in the recommendation to
work in harmony with the American au-
thorities for the pacifcation of the islands
and for the preservation Of the faith there"
Even those who are openly favorable to
the wfthdra wal OF the friars think that such
a measure cannot be taken suddenly and IN
a general way. as there are no clergy.
either American or of other natiCnalitles,
ready to substitute for them-that Is to say,
a clergy capable OF understanding the Ian
aspirations Of the natives. Such clergy
will have to be gradually formed and will
very likely be American, trained either at
the American College in Rome or In the
United States.
When Monsignor Chapele left Rome for
New Orleans he took with him a few stu
dents, whom he expected to be Joined ny
others, and these were ultimately to go as
missionaries to the Philippines. This pro
cedure will perhaps be followed in othe-
doceses and may be considered the first
step in the direction Of the substitution Of
the Fl lars.
What the Vatican without distinction Of
parties or opinions. will fight against is the
loss of the 6,559,90O Catholics, which, ac-
cording to the church register of 1898. eX-
iSt in the Philippines. This is almost the
entire population and after the expulsion
of the Spanish friars they think over 5000,
600 F'ilipinos would be left for more than
a generation without priests. sacraments or
the blessedness of religion. The native
priests amount altogether to about $50,
and have been trained in the seminaries es-
tablished by the friars and formed on the
experience of ten generations. But they
are insufficient in numbers to the needs of
the large population of Asiatic Christians.
Out of the 967 parishes and missions 767
are in the hands of the friars. 15S in those
of secular priests and A. only in those of
Jesuits.
Take Issue With Taft.
AS can be easily understood, the Vatican
sions of the Taft commission, which they
consider composed of anti-Catholics, with
out tolerance toward what is the only re-
hgion of the islands. ne Taft commits
sion. they say. proposes the direct interfer
ence of the American government in re-
liglouS and ecclesiastical matters, and this
is, they add, not only against ordinary Gus
tom. but also absolutely prohibited by the
American Constitution. The exclusion of
religious instruction In the Philippine
schools which the nf
Catholic instruction only, as the population
is entirely Catholic. is for that reason con-
sidered by the Vatican not an applica-
ton of that freedom of creed which is one
of the foundations of the American COnSti-
tuition, but as an attempt on the religious
liberty of the Filipinos under the appear
ance of enforcing American legislation.
This question Of the schools is, in fact,
a very sore one at the Vatican. as they
think that education in the Philippines has
a history and traditions which should be
ing institution there in .6o1, the Domini-
cans university In 1919. the Jesuits a
high school. which was declared q pontifi-
cal university. in 1921.
With regard to property and real estate
centered to great extent in the hands of
the religious orders, the Vatican seems to
De ready to agree that all which has come
to the friars, not through purchase or for
purposes of worship but through the other
offices which they held at the time of the
Spanish dominion. such as schools public
DuhulnSS, etc, should be given up, trust
ing to the generosity Of the United States
for adequate compensa ton.
Matter of Money.
Finally. there is another very important
financial consideration. in which the Vati-
can wishes to placate the friars and the
Spanish element The income of the
church, of which $4,000. 600 year is re-
qulred to maintain the Vatican alone has
Tor some time been gradually diminishing
owing, In Italy, to the struggle between
church and state: in Austria, to the anti
German attitude of the papacy; In France,
to its excessive lenience to the republic
and in Poland. to it's understanding with
Russia; SO that the holy see now depends
principally on the Spanish elements and
upon the Irish In Ireland and America.
The Philippine question, because Of it's
Importance, has aroused in the Vatican the
hope of having one of their long standing
aspirations satisfied, viz. an American rep
resentative to the holy see Their hopes
do not go so far as an ambassador or minis
ter but they would be quite satisfied to be-
gin with semi-official diplomatic agent or
a simple commissioner.
But is it possible for the government at
Washington to meet this desire without
violating, II not the word, at least the
spirit, Of the Constitution?