The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-26
WILL CHANGE VIEWS
ON FRIAR QUESTION
important Document Bearing
on the Philippines
PRESENTS SOME NEW IDEAS
1t Is Especially Important, as it Comes
From the Most Representative
Catholic Body in Philippines.
Several Signatures.
PRESENTS SOME NEW IDEAS

Cincinnati May 5.-one OF the most
important documents bearing on the
Philippine situation which has ever been
sent to this country has just been re-
ceived here at the headquarters of the
American Federation of Catholic Socie-
ties. The document Is an official one and
comes from the Centre Catolico de Fill
plnas, the most representative Catholic
body In the Philippine islands, that voices
the opinions of the bishops as well as
of the several millions of loyal Catholics
in the island. 1t bears the personal sig
nature of eight of the supreme officers
of the Centric Catolico, and was forwarc-
ed to the American Federation of Catno-
lie Societies on the request of special
extra ordinary convention held by the
Centre Catolico, and is reply to the
resolutions of sympathy extended the
friars at the late Chicago convention.
National Secretary Matre said today:
May Change Attitude.
THE document, coming as 1t does imme-
diately after the report of Monsignor
Guidi, the apostolic delegate, whose re-
port is in accord with the views of the
Centre Catolico will no doubt have a
tendency to materially change the atti-
tude of the American people towards the
friars and likewise demonstrate the 10y
atty of the Roman Catholic Fillpinos to-
wards the new superiors." Since the adop-
ton and forwarding of the set of resolu-
tions expressing sympathy for the friars
by the American Federation of Catholic
Societies. National Secretary Matre has
been in correspondence with the Centre
Catolico and he will lay the application of
that Philippine body to become perma-
nently affiliated with the American fed
GRAFTON before the delegates of the next
national convention, which will be held
at Atlantic City from August 1 to s."
To the resolutions adopted by the Amer
lean federation the Centre Catolico replies
as follows:
Contra Catollco de Filipinas:
ITO the American Federation OF Catho-
lie Societies
Reply to Resolution.
Honorable President: 1t is with great
pleasure that we have heard from our
beloved bishop the gratifying news of
the establishment in the United States of
national federation of your Catholic
societies with set a purpose of carrying
to a head certain resolutions passed in
the inaugural assembly held in Chicago
In August last. Upon the receipt of this
news the Centre Catolico determined to
call an extraordinary session, at which
opinions as to government and delibera-
tons can take place concerning the atti-
tude we should adopt toward the vast
American Federation of Catholic Societies.
With unanimity and boundless pleasure
we have resolved:
THAT each and every one of the wise
and conservative resolutions adopted by
the federation in Chicago merit our full
approval.
THAT as q token OF respect and SYM
pathy for those ideals laid down in the
convention in Chicago this Centre Cato
lico de Filipinas desires to establish the
most intimate bonds of union and friend
ship with the American Federation OF
Catholic Societies.
THAT the American Federation OF
Catholic Societies be required to use In
our behalf its efflcacious influence; that,
for the time to come. the complete sepa-
ration of church and state, as provided
by the constitution of your country and
practiced therein, may be made effective
here, thus avoiding the common occur
rences of the insular, provincial or NUM-
cipal authorities of interfering in matters
which are of the particular incumbency
of the church.