He sent letters that went unanswered by the Storers, including an ultimatum in 1905 stating that that if she did not cease using his name he would relieve Bellamy of duty. Nevertheless, Maria Storer highlighted Roosevelt’s 1899 letters of encouragement as she lobbied Pope Pius X. As president, he could not violate church-state separation nor become involved in internal Vatican affairs. He wrote her that he could no longer give it. She pressed Roosevelt to provide his endorsement.

She called for public support from William Howard Taft and other Cincinnatians, and from those in diplomatic circles in Europe. Maria redoubled her efforts on Ireland’s behalf when Pope Leo died in 1903. Minister to Spain.Īfter Theodore Roosevelt became president, he gave Bellamy the post of Ambassador to Austria-Hungary. President William McKinley gave Bellamy the diplomatic post of Minister to Belgium after he lost his congressional seat in part to an anti-Catholic prejudice. Roosevelt wrote to Maria with these sentiments. immigrants as well as assist in the settlement of land disputes in the aftermath of the Spanish-American War. In 1899, Theodore Roosevelt, then governor of New York, agreed that Ireland, an acquaintance of his, would be a good choice and could help to ease the transition to democracy for U.S. To this end, she canvassed their friends and colleagues. Maria dedicated herself to the task of convincing the Vatican that Archbishop Ireland should be elevated to cardinal. church, despite the opposition of Pope Leo XIII. The Storers believed that the “liberal” Catholicism of Archbishop John Ireland would increase the standing of the U.S. Her husband followed her into the Catholic Church. Like Edith, the Storers were Episcopalians, but Maria converted to Catholicism in 1892. Maria was an artist, the founder of Rookwood Pottery Studio and Cincinnati’s May Festival of music. The Roosevelts chose Bellamy to be godson to their son Archie. Maria and Bellamy Storer, a wealthy and well-known couple from Cincinnati, Ohio, were friends with Edith and Theodore Roosevelt.

Dear maria