The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-07-13
CA 7 H OLIC SPAIN

/
Loyal Catholics, Devout and Well
Educated-The Eucharistic Con-
sress at Madrid was Spanish
Profession of Faith-Attitude To-
wards America.
The Right Reverend M. J. O'Do-
herty, d. d., Bishop of Zamboanga, in
the Philippine Islands, spent part of
this week in st. Paul as the guest
of the Most Reverend Archbishop.
He is on his way to San Francisco
whence he will sail about July %
for the eastern diocese to which he
was appointed by the Holy Father
| about a year ago.
For seven years prior to his appoint
ment as first Bishop of Zamboanga he
was Rector of the Irish College i'm
Salamanca, Spain. This college has
most interesting history. It was
founded in 1892 by Phillip II, King
OF Spain, at a time when the Catho-
lie religion was prescribed by English
law and Catholic education prohibited
in Ireland. This College and the
other Irish colleges On the continent
helped to preserve the faith in Ire
land during Penal days.
Religious Conditions in Spain,
Bishop O'Doherty is enthusiastic
about the Spanish character and love
for religion. Speaking of the religi-
GUS conditions that exist in Spain he
declares that the Spaniards, as
people, are today as devotedly Catho-
lie as they were at any period of
their history. He branded as false
the reports that have been circulated
in the public press about the persecu-
tion of the Church by the Spanish
Government. 1t is true the Spanish
| Government did pass one measure
which was wrong in principle, but
this is the only crime that can be
laid to it's charge. In December, 1910,
it enacted law forbidding the estab-
| lishment of any more religious
houses in Spain without it's permis-
sion, thereby arrogating to itself a
strictly ecclesiastical jurisdiction. As
in duty bound, the Vatican very
properly issued a strong protest
against this unjust interference with
it's rights
The reports of anti-clericalism
and many other charges that have
seen the light in the American
press are utterly without founda-
ton. The Bishop has travelled ex-
tensively in Spain and he declares
that the most friendly relations exist
| between priests and people, both in
town and country. In fact, he has
| never seen country where the do
cesar priest takes such a lively in
terest in the spiritual and temporal
welfare of his people. He is the
guide, philosopher and friend of every
member of his flock.
Educational Facilities in Spain.
Practically every village in Spain
| is provided with a school, although
| these are far from being as we'll
equipped in many respects as the
schools of America. The teachers
|
their central normal schools and the
Bishop is quite conversant with the
work Of one of these schools at Sala-
manca. School attendance is COM
| pulsary but, like other laws, it is
not always vigorously enforced. Great
facilities are afforded the children of
even the poorest to get higher edu-
| cation and university training. The
sons of very poor parents are enabled
to educate themselves at the Univer-
sity of Salamanca almost without
| cost by securing scholarships through
competitive examination.
One Of the most cheering expert
ences for Catholic priest in Spain
is to find that the more educated
the Spaniards are the more devoted
Catholics they become. Some of the
best scholars and professional men
| in the world are found in Spain.
Among them may be mentioned Men,
endez Playo and Ramon Y Cajal, the
noted neurologist, who is known i'm
all the medical schools of the world.
These men are loyal and devout
Catholics. On Holy Thursday in the
| University churches the only people
who are privileged to occupy kneel-
ing benches before the Blessed Sacra-
ment are the doctors of the Univer-
sfty who go to Holy Communion in a
body on that day.
| Spain's Profession of Faith.
Bishop O'Doherty was President Of
the Irish Section of the Eucharistic
Congress held at Madrid last year.
When the question of holding the Con-
gress was first considered the anti
clericals warned the Catholic author
tiles not to bring the Congress to
Madrid because only the women and
children in Spain were Catholic; but
fho onynnitfnA in charge 0f thA Com