Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-02
CHAPLAIN vATTMAN's REPORT.
Investigated Religious Conditions in
the Philippines.


the Philippines.
Extracts from the report of Father E. J.
Vattman, chaplain of the 10th United
States Infantry, to the Catholic bishops as
sembled in annual convention here last
week on the status of the Catholic Church
in the Philippines have been made public.
Father Vattman. with the knowledge and
consent of the War Department and under
direction Of the church authorities. recent
ly made a careful investigation Of Catholic
interests in the archipelago. He is I'M
sparing in his praise of Governor Taft and
other members of the Philippine commits
sion for their honesty and impartiality in
religious affairs. He comments on the In
fluence Of Aglipay, an insurgent priest, In
the islands and expresses the belief that
signor Guidi been appointed to Manila the
breach would not have been SO wide and 1t
would have been quickly closed. Father
Vattmann also regards the present feeling
toward the friars as most unfortunate
ITO my mind" said he, 1T Is deplorable
that certain of our Catholic papers persist
in misrepresent1ng Governor Taft and his
administration. He is clean and honest
faint of bigotry in his composition. His
attitude toward the church and to the Cath
Ole interests In general Is simply admira-
ble You may be certain that he thorough
fish designs Of the renegade Aglipay, and
that he has profound knowledge both Of
the men and the conditions around him. I
repeat, the governor Is honest and Impair
tial 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-minded and i'm
partial. He is straightforward in his deal
ings and there Is no evasion or hypocrisy
about him. He is an exceptionally good
lawyer. an excellent Latin scholar and is
well versed in canon law. of which he has
made speciality. His wife, most estima-
BILE lady. Is a devout Catholic.
Judge Smith, another member OF the
commission. Is Catholic, and surely our
interests would be safe in his hands. Mr..
Ferguson. secretary for the Philippines, a
former Washingtonian. is another broad
minded man. with not faint Of bigotry.
In fact. the commission itself and all its
members are possessed OF the right spirit,
and we Catholics need fear no injustice at
their hands.
LAS to the Alipay heresy-for 1t may be
SO Called am sorry to say 1t has attained
very considerable proportions. and bodies
danger in the faith Of the people. Remem-
Der, there are 100000 Catholics in the
Philippines. about as many as there are in
the whole United States. I have the Inn
preston that had an American archbishop
not have been so wide and 1t would have
been quickly closed. Monsignor Guidi has
done very well. but really believe the ap-
pointment of an American archbishop
would have carried with 1t more Of pres
tige. Most unfortunate Is 1t that there is
such deep feeling against the friars-in-
deed. 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. / found this feeling Of
bitterness against the friars in every one
Of the provinces, except. perhaps. the prov
ince of Cebu.
ut is beautiful to witness the profound
love Of the Filipinos for the church. I
was, on many occasions. strongly Impress
the faith of such a devoted people ia In
danger. But believe have pointed out
the solution Of the problem"