Kentucky Irish American., 1912-02-10
Duty Catholics Owe Coreligion- I
lists In Those Distant
Islands.
People and Clergy Engaged in
Fierce Fight Against
Divorce.
QUICK ACTION IS ASKED fd(

The following letter from the In
ternational Catholic Truth Society
reveals a startling condition OF
affairs in our far-off possessions, g.
condition that merits the attention
Of lovers of religion and good gov
ernment:
l beg you to present the enclosed
letter, which has just been received
by us from one of the Bishops in the
Philippine Islands, to the readers OF
the Kentucky Irish American. The
thrusting an absolute divorce law
upon the people of those islands, in
spite of the religious and moral coh-
gictions of the vast majority of the
inhabitants, is indeed a sad cons
quence of American annexation.
the women pathetically stated
their resolutions of protest,
have got along we'll during all
centuries without this curse
our land-every argument in "a,
Of absolute divorce is sufficieI
met by the separation which is
lowed for just reasons by church
the Spanish law"
We Catholic Americans ov
duty to our coreligionists in
distant islands, to protect them
an institution the evils of which
being universally deplored IN
own land, and consequently VIZ
that our readers, collectively az
dividually, send letters of g;
protest to the President and
tary of War, begging them to
this disgrace to the Phil
Islands. A strong protest a
moment should be effective. If
killing the measure at least in
ing final action upon 1t to
ferred until the inhabitants {
Islands will have had a chan,
sSnress~ their wishes in the n
following is the substance
|, -ar received: XIL(I
'"The people and clergy OF the
Philippine Islands are now engaged
In fierce fight against divorce. Il
am requested to ask you to assist us.l
nhe Philippine Assembly passed on
December 6, 1911, by a vote of
forty-four to twenty-six, an absolute
divorce bill. Said bill is now before
the Commission, or what might
call the Senate of these islam
whose approval is necessary to ma
1t operative. l do not know b
the Commission, the majority
which is composed OF Americans,
CARDS this infamous measure. AL
as who are responsible for tn
guarding of the prerogatives an,
prestige of the church over here ar
awaiting anxiously the voice Of tn
Commission in this most importaD
matter.
"The Assemblymen who took Il
lead in this wretched business re
resent the sentiments OF
Filipino people less than even
French Deputies represent the
ings and aspirations Of their peo
The Filipino women by tenf
thousands and, l may say, by /
ireds OF thousands, sent protests
the Assembly against the iniquit
bill. But those blind lawmakers
spite of public opinion, had q
way. And why? you will ask
reply by giving three reasons.
First, because they think t
people should be up-to-date,
uCuCC INC 6Oou anu lhC bat Va n
ern civilization should be adopted
Second, because of their a
Catholic spirit. The church mi
the people what they are. ''n
the only Christian people in
Orient, and consequently the
people over in that part of the W
amongst whom woman can take
place which God has given her.
these lawmakers wish to strai
that church. tlti
Third, because the prime mot
In this new legislation is, l am to
married to a good. decent won
who Is not now aristocratic enou
TOR him, and hence he wishes
repudiate her and marry anoth
who moves in higher social circles
What cares he that the dis
tegration OF the family and its q
seQuent destruction will be int
iuced into these islands by his
bill as long as he can advance
worldly interests? The Assem-
should. In my humble opinion,
condemned In the strongest teI
and the resolutions sent To
President and Secretary OF
But whatever Is done should b,
quickly. as delay may be
fatal"