The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1904-02-13
BISHOP ROCKER.
New Philippine Prelate Recently
interviewed at Manila,

interviewed dL MdulIds
The following interview given by
Bishop Rocker is taken from the Ma
Mia Cable News of Oct II:
Il arrived to-day on the Hong Kong
Maru, after thoroughly delightful
trip from San Francisco. The weather
has been beautiful, the ship is an ex-
cellent one, the officers most attentive
and courteous, the company was pleas
ant; and all combined to make the
voyage altogether enjoyable. OF
course, 1 am not yet at the end of
my journey, my destination being
Jaro, on the island of Panay. 1 was
consecrated Bishop Of Jaro on June
II in the American College at Rome
by His Eminence Cardinal Martinelli,
with whom l had served for six years
ut the Apostolic delegation in Wash
ington. My appointment with those of
the other American bishops, for the
Philippine Islands, was one Of the last
official acts of the late Pope Leo XIII,
work here will be for the fulfilling of
the dying wish of the great pontiff
whom all the world admired and
loved. L expect to remain here in
Nlanila for some days-perhaps a few
weeks-n order to get closer view
of the situation than have had and
to prepare the way for the proper
entry into my diocese. While l have
| read and studied all the information
which was to be found in both Ameri-
CT and Rome, l realize that there is
much left for me to learn by personal
observation on the spot For that
same reason l have come without any
'preconceived policy For the same
reason l have come alone and have
made no arrangements for the coming
of priests to help in the work to be
done. Not knowing myself just what
the work will be, I had no way of
explaining to others what | would
want them for. At present | have but
one intention and desire. l hope that
L shall be able to make my priests and
people understand that l have come n
long distance from home and from all
that is dear to me for their good alone.
and to work with them for the preser-
walton of the Catholic faith which has
been their greatest blessing in the past
and which alone can secure for them
peace and happiness for the future.
The dioceses of the Philippines hay
ing become vacant by the death or the
resignation of the Spanish bishops,
the Holy See, in it's wisdom, thought
it we'll to send American bishops in
order that the people might see that
the change in political sovereignty
does not in any way import change
in religion. We want the people to
know that in the United States the
same religion they have known and
loved and plncticed for centuries eX.
lists and tiourishes, and that under
American sovereignty here in the
Philippines Il still more glorious flu.
ture is possible for that religion. !
am confident. too. that our work here
must rebound to the benefit of the
government. The Church and hel
teachings know no distinction of gov.
ernments any more than they know
distinction of persons. The Church
stands already and everywhere fol
peace and law and order, and for
respect and obedience for lawfully
constituted authority. Just as she
stood for obedience to the authority
of the Spanish monarch, so she now
stands for obedience to the authority
of the American republic which has
succeeded to that of the crown of