Rome's Bargain with Manila: Church Authority and Civil Power
THAT church which rests upon a principle first made conspicuous by the Roman emperor Constantine, who bargained with the bishops for their support in civil affairs in return for his support of their ambitions in the religious realm, remains true to the policy thus bequeathed it, in the course it would pursue in the Philippine Islands. The Catholic “apostolic delegate” at Manila, in a recent public address to Governor Taft, said:— It will be my first and principal thought to see that your authority is upheld and respected everywhere in the islands by those dependent on me, and I need hardly say that I expect your excellency to do the same for mine and for all the authorities of the church in general. “I will uphold your authority in the islands if you will uphold my authority and that of the Catholic Church.” This is what the representative of Rome proposed. Governor Taft in his reply showed that he fully appreciated the significance of the use of the word “authority.” In his language that term was conspicuous by its absence. He said:— The property and the rights of the church must be observed and protected by the government. What those rights are, when in dispute, unless they are settled by an agreement, must be determined by the courts of justice. The preservation of those rights is the duty of the government of these islands, not only by virtue of the Treaty of Paris, but by virtue of the Constitution of the United States and of the principles of American jurisprudence, which are so deeply seated in the political creed of every American that they cannot be departed from. “Authority,” said the “apostolic delegate.” “Rights,” said Governor Taft. The Philippine governor, and the United States for which he spoke, have nothing to do with the “authority” of the Catholic Church. Rome failed to gain a recognition of her authority and a promise to uphold it from the United States government, but she is constantly seeking for it, and will make another attempt at the next favorable opportunity.