New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-07-10
THE PRIESTHOOD IN MEXICO.

Attention was called the other day to the
ominous manifestations OF disaffecton with the
; Church in most Catholic countries OF Europe
and a City OF Mexico correspondent OF The
! Evening Post" shows that much the same state
of affairs exists in Mexico There is said to be
| no hostility against the Church as such, but
against certain priests who hare amassed enor-
nous wealth and whose lives are far below the
moral standard expected Of the clergy. SO
strong is the resentment felt toward these men
that the government contem plates taking some
step to remedy the abuse. The problem is not
at all a one In one form or another the
clerical question has troubled Mexico for about
seventy-fve years. Every law enacted TO re-
strain the activities OF the priesthood has been
evaded. When General Diaz overthrow Lerdo
in 1876 he confscated the Church lands. which
then comprised more than half the entire terri
tory OF Mexico. He also suppressed converts
and nonasteres and prohibited religious pro-
cessions and the Intelligent Catholic population
OF the country supported him in these drastic
measures. looking on them not as directed
against the Church. but at abuses which ex-
listed under it's supposed sanction
But under the easy liberation o: recent years
It is declared that certain ambitious and I'M
scrupulous priests have found ways to make
themselves enormously rich: while the lives of
some OF them are so scandalous that even the
clergy are protesting against them. and one bold
priest has attracted general attention to him
self by exposing what he calls "iniquities under
the altar cloth" ITO this" says the CORE
spondent OF The Post" lis added the bitterness
"of the layrnen who have had their homes broken
up by the who in priests robes have
robbed and corrupted. The government now
Feels that the limit OF liberation has been
reached" When the law prohibiting the Church
from amassing great wealth enacted the
priests had property intended for the Church
devised to them the theory that they would
administer II for the benefit OF the Church.
Many. OF course. did So but others used II for
their own pleasures. In every part OF Mexico
II is said that there priests now worth mill
ions who a few years ago were penniless.
This wealth has come TO them through tesla
mentary requests. In many cases the recipient
| barely knew the person making the bequest
having been desj~.,t Ted a beneficiary by other
| priests who for certain reasons did not wish
! the money left direct 10 them. Not long ago
aged woman who died in the City OF Mexico
left an estate worth hundreds of thousands Of
dollars to a young priest who had just arrived
| from Rome. while her sister cut off with
! annuity OF $50.
The recent case of Padre Amado appears TO
| have brought to a head the smouderng indig
nation against the priesthood. This priest. who
| was attached to the Cathedral of Guadalajara.
eloped with Marie PadilIa the daughter OF a
| respected lawyer taking with him SlOro OF
| charity funds intrusted TO him. He came first
! TO this city, but afterward went to SPAIN where
! he was arrested. but there is said 10 be little
| prospect OF his being punished. he Is the
| nominal owner of six haciendos In the State OF
| Jalisco really belonging TO the Church. and his
| fellow priests fear that he will refuse to re-
| store them II they complain against him. II
such abuses these really exist, they ought, OF
course. to be remedied by the authorities Of the
| Church and doubtless the government would
| be glad TO he thus relieved of the responsibility
| of taking action. But as the Church authorities
| are apparently quescent the government feels
| that IL must do something. although II is by no
| means certain what will be the wisest course
| tO