Good Advice to Catholics.
The President made an address on the evening of June 10 before the Congress of Roman Catholic Missionaries then in session in Washington, speaking principally of the settlement in the Philippines of the difficulties caused by the close relation there of the church to the government. Separation would, he thought, strengthen the church there “as freedom and toleration and complete separation of church and state have strengthened the church in this country.” This is very good advice; it is to be hoped they will follow it. But the religious body concerned is not prone to follow advice unless it favors its own policy. How about the government? Has it any responsibility in the matter? There can be no union of church and state unless the state consents and unites with the church, and is not the United States supreme in the Philippines?