at seeing the aforesaid province [of Augustinians] reduced to their
profession and subject to the same laws of the royal patronage. Those
laws, although so just, do not bind the regulars to continue in their
missions, which they obtain precariously, in case that all the royal
patronage is impracticable to them with their institute." In the year
1767, and during the government of Don Simon de Anda, there came
an order from Madrid, together with a bull from Pope Benedict XIV,
requiring the curas to submit to the metropolitan. The religious of
St. Augustine still resisted, which caused Anda to have all the curas
in Pampanga arrested, and to send the provincial and definitors to
Espana. In the year 1775 arrived a decisive order from the court,
requiring all the regulars to submit to the visit and the royal
patronage, and the restoration of the curacies of Pampanga to the
Augustinians. They submitted, and from that time the regular curas
have been subject to their provincial in matters _de vita et moribus_
[_i.e._, of conduct and morals], of the bishop in all that pertains to
spiritual administration, and to the captain-general as the viceregal
patron. According to a royal decree of August 1, 1795, it is impossible
to remove a regular cura against his will without formulating a cause
against him and trying him according to law, unless he is appointed to
fill some office in the order; and even in this case it is necessary
that the consent of the ordinary and the royal vice-patron precede,
in accordance with the terms of another royal decree of September
29, 1807. Perhaps this subjection of the curas to the bishops and
vice-patrons will have resulted in great advantages; but there is
no doubt that the relaxation of morals which the regular superiors
foresaw has been verified. There are many, there are numberless faults
which a director recognizes and knows positively, but which cannot
be proved in a judgment, especially when one is conducting a cura of
souls. Further, in a cause, it is necessary to take depositions from
the parishioners, and to make public matters which it would be highly
important to keep secret; for scandal does more harm than the evil
which one is trying to remedy, especially in a colony where the good
man and the prestige of the religious is so important. And, above all,
it ought to be remembered that since the will of three must unite to
punish one cura, it will be very easy for the cura to find a means
of