New-York tribune., 1902-08-24
RELIGION IN PHILIPPIANS.
DENIAL OF WORK AGAINST ROMAN CATH
oLIcs MADE BY DEPARTMENT.

DENIAL OF WORK AGAINST ROMAN CATH
oLIcs MADE BY DEPARTMENT.
Washington Aug. 23.-The Bureau of 1nsular
Affairs of the War Department has made puohc
the renort of Frank Fl. Bowen Acting General
Superintendent of Public Instruction for the
Philippine Islands upon charges made in the
United States against the school system of the
islands alleging that it was used as an agency
against Catholics. and generally to the pretudice
Of Roman Catholicism. These charges were tor-
warded TO Manila, and the reply was maze 10
Acting Governor Wright The report OF super
intendent Bowen is dated July q, ana makes
specific denials Of the charges. He says tnat OK
twAntv persons who have been division superin-
tendents only one has ever been clergyman
Three division superintendents were appoihteo
from a list submitted by leaders of the Roman
Catholic Church in the United states In thiS
connection the report says;
The question of the religious belief Of appli-
ca,ts and annointees was never considered until
late in 1901 At that time special lot OF apPii-
cations gathered by the authorizes OF lhe ~
man Catholic Church in the United states. vas
sant ~ the civil governor Of these islands ana
transmitted 20 the general superintendent.
these special lists three diVlslon nnnntsd In
reporting these appointments TO tne cNi eo'
error the general superintendent statsu. -,
"T have had much difficulty in hIllohs Peopiss
~ this lot of applications who were posseSSSu
~ the educational preparation and teaching S eA-
perience which is required OF other ", bser
4, This department. Those VINO nave ilot O7eH
selected seem TO be wholly unsuita pie
The only departure from strict non-sectai q @ Ie
ism, In the conduct of he scnools Wds q H PtJ y
I,sion OF the Philippine Commission "Iich Ii'au
Il lawful for priest or clergy nlau MAJ u gu, c,,,,I1c
.abi;shed church in the pueblo wnere puoi.C
school IL situated TO teach religion LOT haL an y
hour three times week IN the . scnooi = 80
TO pupils whose parents hdNe eNA'
for such instruction
Concerning proselyting the report says
Not only is no proselyting allowed OF a.
.or,otaS in any of the public schools. but IN.
ouiry OF the leaders Of the four principaI
Protestant denominations here brings OUT tie
TACT that so far is known by these i,n, ieatel,
there Is not one native Protestant SuliodS SU''o0
teacher i'm the entire archipelago
The statement that not one-third of the Prot
.stan+ teachers ever taught day before going
70 the Philippines and that the Roman Catnoiic
.aoob.rs arc sent into the distant provinces Is
emphatically denied.
The assertion is made that the educational
danartnent has no knowledge OF distribution OF
TsihIas IN n private church school by missiona-
rios It also stated that the conditions or the
nubIic schools in the Philippines do not war
ran. the statement that they are worse III the
iaIands as viewed from Roman Cathoiic
standpoint than in the United states Inc
report closes with the following;
The venornous attack on the Philippine COM
mission and especially the Filipino members
thereof who are termed traitors ana rascaIs,
racrIassness of statement which characterize
The whole article. The negotiations at present
under way in Rome in regard TO the churcn
lands in these islands is sufrciehl relutatiVn Va
tbe last wild statement of this eNtraoTdiflarS
production. in which not one material statement
Is true.