OCR Text |
Show CHURCH DESECRATION. The charges of church desecration in the Philippines which have been made against the United States troops new stationed in those islands are too serious seri-ous to be taken as conclusive without careful investigation. We are aware that protests1 have been made by some Catholic societies against ! the reported desecration, but wa ar?-! ar?-! inclined to the view that such protests i have, in each case been basd upon unsubstantial un-substantial reports that have come to the United .S-r'through irresponsible sources. r -Tf'fs but fair to conclude that Avere l there any church desecrations in the Philippines such men as Father Mc-i Mc-i Kinnon and other Catholics of repute, j now connected with our army, would : be the first to make a protest. In the ; absence of protest, therefore, on the part of such men, it would seem ex-! ex-! travagant to give prominence to the reports that are being scattered, fatherless, father-less, over the country to the effect that our troops are indulging in the looting and pillaging of churches. That churches have been used and are being used by our troops is certain but in every case where our army is in possession of a church it came intc such possession after driving the insurgents in-surgents out. Of course such use would naturally jar upon the se-nsibilities of Catholics but is it more than a natural consequence conse-quence of war? We have made carefu; investigation of these reports. We have conversee! with soldiers lately returned re-turned from the Philippines to Utah. Montana and Colorado, men who have been in nearly every engagement thus far fought and our conclusions from the investigation made is that no church desecration, as such, has been indulged in by our army. Until some substantial fact is brought forth we advise readers to form no judgment in this matter, unles it be to conclude that the use to which churches have been put is a necessary use consequent conse-quent upon the conditions now existing. The Intermountain Catholic has no deaire to say anything in extenuation i Ul JUoLlllCCLLlUil Ul llltT dUlliliUClL (LllUli 3 j policy in the Philippines, but when i direct charges are made, justice re-! re-! quires that proof and not allegations be brought forward. The whole matter is too serious to be considered upon hear. |