The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-02-09
THE RUINS OF DOLORES.

Dolores, Christian community of
over 1900 souls, lies in the heart of
the Province of Abra, in the Philip
pines. It was founded by Spanish
Friars in 1886, and, consequently, in
its first stages OF development, when
the Revolution broke out in 1898. A
sad, dark period broke over the young
community. The Friars were obliged
to fee; the church fell into ruins.
Some rests Of masonry and few
posts Of indestructible MolaVe wood
still mark the position and size of
the former church. The church Orna-
ments and vestments were for the
most part stolen by the revolutionary
soldiers, who used the chasubles for
saddle cloths; others were stolen by
particular individuals and later on
used in the Aglipayan churches; the
remaining vestmentS became useless
on account of neglect and the raYages
of the tropical dampness and the all
deVouring white ants. The priests
residence and the few plots of land
belonging to the Church were seized
by the municipal authorities under the
plea of their being public property.
Of all these things only the plots of
land were recovered in the course of
time, and this after years Of expensive
lawsuits. The priests residence con-
tinues to be in the hands of the mu-
nicipality
The Revolution came to an end. The
Christians earnestly begged the Bishop
to send them a priest. But as all re-
ligious priests (FI'iars) had been fore
ed TO retire from missionary and paro.
chial Iabors, there became great
scarcity of priests all over the Islands.
The native priests did not suffice to-
fill even the most@important parishes.
Hundreds of parishes were without a.
pastor; in others one single Filipino
priest had to do the work which, a
few years before, had been done by
three and even more F'riarS, assisted
by q number of Filipinos. Partly led
astray by Professionals, and partly
through Ignorance, the Christians Of
Dolores applied for a priest to Agli-
pay, the unfortunate founder Of the
independent Church Of the Filipfnos."
He answered their prayers and sent
them one of his pseudo-priests. This
man, dressed in priestly garb and
aping, as well as he knew how, the
ceremonies Of the Church, satisfied ex-
terierily the requirements of the good
people. They did not understand that
they We're being robbed of the hottest
of truths, of the most precious fruits
of their holy faith, and that, instead
had nothing but vain display and
mockery. The evil consequences of
this religious deception could not fail
to become apparent. A great, con
stantly increasing Indifference for re-
ligious things spread all over the land.
The false priests, on account of: their
anything but exemplary lives and
their lack of education, could not eX-.
ercise any influence over the people
| for any length of time. The parents
became careless and Indifferent; the
children became neglected, for there
| was no one to trouble themselves
about the religious education of the
little ones. ~ -
Hard upon the steps of Aglipayan-
ism, came Professionalism, introduced
into these once entirely Catholic is
lands by the emissaries who came in
the shadow of the American flag.
BothtAglipayanism and Professionalism
agreed on this one point; to tear the
True Faith out of the hearts of the
Filipinos and to fill them with con-
tempt and hatred for the Catholic
priest and everything Catholic. Dur
ing twelve long years could schism
and heresy exercise, without any OPP
position and hindrance, their work of
destruction at, Dolores? There was
none to defend the Church and her
rights, none to enlighten the ignorant
people, none to warn them against the
deception of which they were the in
nocent victims. Nobody can fully UNI
derstand all the mischief all the CON
fusion caused, during these twelve
years by these so-called ministers Of
the Gospel, who never hesitated to
make use of the grossest lies and the
blacklist calumnies to further their
wicked ends. In June, 1913, the Mis-
sion of Dolores was entrusted to my
charge. With the first day Of my
appearance in the place there began
series of plots and prosecutions
which lasted for nearly three years
OF this Is will not speak more. ex-
tensively. Thank God, public senti-
ment has changed for the better, and
instead of distrust and hatred, they
show respect and even confidence.
Schism and heresy have caused much
harm, created much religious indiffer-
ence, but they have failed in creating
convinced followers. Their power and
influence over the common people are.
sinking fast. ..
The time has come to lead the lost
sheep back into the true fold. But
must have church and school.