Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-05-06
PRIEST PRAISES GOV. TAFT.
The Status of the Catholic Church in
the Philippines.

Washington, May 5.-Extracts from
the reports of Father E. J. Vattmann,
chaplain of the Twenty-ninth United
States Infantry, to the Catholic bishops
assembled in annual convention here
last week. on the status of the Catholic
church an the Philippines, have just
been made public. Father Vattmann,
with the knowledge and consent of the
War Department, and under the direc-
ton of the church authorities, recently
made a careful investigation of Cath
Ole interests in the archipelago. He is
| unsparing in his praise of Governor
Taft and other members of the Philip
pine Commission for their honesty and
impartiality in religious affairs. He
comments on the influence of Aslipay,
an insurgent priest in the islands, and
expresses the belief that had an Ameri-
can bishop instead of Mgr. Guidi been
appointed to Manila the breach would
not have been SO WIDE and it would
have been quickly closed. Father Watt
| mann also regards the present feeling
| toward the friars as most unfortunate.
ITO my mind" said he, lit is de-
plorable that certain of our Catholic
! papers persist in misrepresenting
He is a clean and honest man, broad
| minded and liberal. with no faint Of
bigotry in his composition. His atti-
tude toward the church and to the
| Catholic interests in general is simply
admirable. You may be certain that
he thoroughly understands the charac-
ter and the selfish designs of the rene
gade Aglipay, and that he has pro-
| fOln6 kn0Wladpa nf no nd
| the conditions around him. / repeat,
| the governor is honest and impartial,
and we have nothing to fear from him
he can always be trusted to do the
right thing.
Commissioner Wright, Governor
Taft's able coadjutor, is also fair-mind-
ed and impartial. He is straightfor-
ward in his dealings, and there is no
evasion or hypocrisy about him. He is
an exceptionally good lawyer, an ex-
ce!ient Latin scholar, and is well
varsed in canon law. of which he has
made a speciality. His wife, a most
estimable lady, is a devout Catholic.
Judge Smith, another member of the
commission, is Catholic, and surely
out interests would be safe in his
hands. Mr.. Ferguson, secretary for
the Philippines, former Washing
tonan, is another broad minded man
with not faint of bigotry. In fact,
the commission itself and all it's men,
bers are possessed of the right spirit,
and we Catholics need fear no injustice
at their hands.
AS to the Aglipay heresy-for it may
be so called-I am sorry to say it has
attained very considerable proportions,
and BODIES danger in the faith of the
people. Remember, there are 100000
Catholics in the Philippines, about as
many as there are in the whole United
States. | have the impression that had
an American archbishop been appoint
ed to Manila, the breach would not
have been so wide, and it would have
been quickly closed. Mgr. Guidi has
done very well, but 1 really believe the
appointment of an American arch
bishop would have carried with it more
prestige.
Most unfortunate is it that there is
such a deep feeling against the friars:
indeed, they are really hated. They are
looked upon as part and parcel of the
old oppressive Spanish regime, and it is
this feeling that has given an impetus
to the Aglipay heresy. l found this
feeling of bitterness against the friars
in every one of the provinces, except,
perhaps. the Province of Cebu.
ut is beautiful to witness the pro-
found love of the Filipinos for the
church. 1 was. on many occasions,
strongly impressed by it, And I am
deeply greved to think the faith of
such devoted people is in danger. But
| believe l have pointed out the solu-
ton of the problem"