Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Comerford
Subject(s): Catholic Church, Freedom of religion, Friars, Land tenure--Religious aspects--Catholic Church, Philippines
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President Roosevelt thinks that William Comerford fails to understand the “bitter indignation” of the Catholic Filipinos and Philippine priests against the friars. After consulting with leading Filipino Catholics, it was decided to try and purchase the friars’ lands with the condition that the friars leave the islands. This seemed the best way to appease Filipino Catholics and do justice to the Catholic Church. If no agreement is reached, the government has no power to force the friars to leave the islands or force the parishes to accept the friars. The Roosevelt administration is doing its best “to safeguard all the rights of all religious people, clerical or lay, in the Philippines.” (Copy of this letter was marked “Void – not sent.)
Collection
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Creation Date
1902-07-16
Creator(s)
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919
Recipient
Language
English
Period
U.S. President – 1st Term (September 1901-February 1905)
Repository
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
Page Count
3
Production Method
Record Type
Multi-image
Resource Type
Rights
These images are presented through a cooperative effort between the Library of Congress and Dickinson State University. No known restrictions on publication.
Citation
Cite this Record
Chicago:
Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Comerford. [July 16, 1902]. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o267944. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Comerford. [16 Jul. 1902]. Multi-image. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 3, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o267944.
APA:
Roosevelt, Theodore, 1858-1919.: , [1902, July 16]. Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William Comerford. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/digital-library/o267944.
Cite this Collection
Chicago:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University.
MLA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Digital Library. Dickinson State University. December 3, 2025. https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
APA:
Library of Congress Manuscript Division. Theodore Roosevelt Papers. Library of Congress Manuscript Division.
Retrieved from https://www.theodorerooseveltcenter.org/collection/library-of-congress-manuscript-division.
