The Irish standard., 1906-12-08
AGLlPAY FAILS.
jec.t.

ieeeIl.iy DeSll feHuereu Dy the Fnlllp-
pine Supreme Court. The decision
practically puts an end to the schism
lead by Aglipay, the self-appointed,
self-annointed archbishop of the So
called National Catholic Church.
This schism was organized shortly
after the American occupation by a
native priest who was in the insurgent
army under Aguinaldo. When the
movement lead by Aguinaldo failed,
Aglipay took advantage Of tho feel
ing OF discomfort existing among the
Filipinos and started the movement
which at first gathered considerable
support. When the Spanish priests
and friars left the islands the people
were in many districts left entirely
without priests. Aylipay seized upon
the opportunity and urged upon the
Filipinos the ACCESSIBILITY of organic
ing a national church., which should
be independent Of the Pope. At that
time the feeling Of nationality was
strong and the people felt that they
had been imposed upon by the friars,
that the church organized by Aglipay
was really the Catholic church under
native priests. instead of Spanish
priests.
Later on Aglipay attempted to ell
list tho Protestant clergy in the move.
He proposed that Bishop Brent of the
Episcopal church and the other Prot
estant pastors should join the move
and persuade the American govern
mcnt to confiscate all of the property
belonging TO the Catholic church, and
drive out the Catholic priests and
found an independent church for the
Filipinos. Aglipay's idea was to en-
list the United States government in
the move. He did not know that the
American policy of government pre-
vented any interference by the state
in religious matters.
Tho Protestant clergy refused to
join in the movement. Aglipay's char
acter was not such that it inspired
confidence. He was far more able as
Il political conspirator than religious
leader. Nevertheless, in the beginning
Aglipay appealed to the people. The
idea that the PHILIPPINES belonged to
the Filipinos commanded a rather
strong following. In several towns his
followers actually drove out the regu-
lar pastors. He had churches in nine
teen OF the provinces. When Arch
bishop Harry went to the islands he
appealed to the Philippine commission
to protect him in the possession Of all
properties belonging to the Catholic
church. III July, 1905. the Supreme
Court was given jurisdiction over all
questions involving the title to church
property. The Catholic authorities
brought actions in nineteen different
provinces to eject the representatives
of tho so-called National Catholic
Churc. from Catholic churches that
cases those In possession Immediately
confessed judgment and no defense
was made.
Tho first Of the contested cases has
Just been disposed Of by the Supreme
Court, and the effect of it is to return
all church property to the possession
OF the regular Catholic bishops and
priests. Aglipay and his followers will
thus be forced from nearly every par
ish where they arc now installed If
the schism is to be continued, its pro-
lnoters must build and equip their
own churches.
.Agltpay's contention was that the
churches and the parsonages We're the
property Of the people Of the parish.
who had the right to use them for
any purpose they desired and employ
oily pllGSI lACy pISlCl1Gu. NuSu liz
found the churches vacant or unused,
he would place one of his priests in
charge.
The court now decides that the prop
erty belongs to the Catholic church,
which built them and occupied them
for many years. 1t is probable that
this decision will cause the entire coll
lapse Of the Aglipay movement. The
movement had already commenced to
lose power among the people, chiefly
because Of the change of management
of the Catholic church i'll the Philip
pines since the American occupation.
Under the Spanish rule all bishops
and most Of the priests were Of span-