Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 87, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 February 1910 — MGR.FALCONIOON POPE'S POSITION [ARTICLE]

MGR.FALCONIOON POPE'S POSITION

Refusal to Receive Ex-Vice President Fairbanks Discussed. ARCHBISHOP IRELAND IS'UPHELO Methods of Methodists of Rome In At* tempting to Wean Children of Catholic Faith Away from Church Deplored. Washington, Feb. 11—Monsignor Diomede Falconio, apostolic delegate to the United State*, in an interview here discussed the refusal of the Pope to receive Former Vice President Fairbanks at the Vatican. Mgr. Falconio said that the holy father could not have acted otherwise and said that the Pope did not wish to offend “His children'' whether Catholic or Protestant and upheld Archbishop Ireland in his declaration that the Methodist church in Rome proselyted unfairly. 'The holy father loves *his children everywhere, both Protestant and Catholic. He would be deeply grieved to offend them,” said Mgr. Falconio, “but you know Rome is the parish of the hold father.” The delegate went on to say that Catholics throughout the world regretted the incident. “But,” he added, in explanation, “there was nothing else for the holy father to do under the circumstances.” “The holy father,” he said “take 9 pleasure in receiving men and women from all parts of the world if they come properly accredited and by that I mean if they have a letter from a a bishop or myself. Of course, a man of the International reputation of Mr. Fairbanks would not need such a latter because the Pope knows of him and his work. “Time and again I have given letters of introduction to Protestant ministers who desired to pay a visit to the pontiff while in Rome, and I am sure the pontiff enjoyed their visit There Is surely no foundation for the statement which has gone broadcast that one must act as a Catholic while in Rome If he may hop£ to be given an audience by the holy father.” “They are proselyting little children of the poor of Rome. These little ones over whom the Catholic church gazes as a mother, are given shoes and clothing by the Methodists and are in this way weaned away from their mother church. “Their parents are Catholics," he continued, “and the Methodists •• are doing all in their power by these gifts to wrest them away and to the faith as laid down by John Wesley.” This method, according to the archbishop, is highly dishonorable.