El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-10-22
ASK j. s. To AID
CATHOLIC CLERGY
Catholics Want Protection in
Mexico and Reparation
For Past Injuries.

Washington, D. c., Oct. ga COM
mittee from the American Federation
of Catholic Societies filed with the
state department Wednesday an appeal
to the American government and peO-
pie to protect the Catholic clergy in
Mexico and demand repatriation for al
legged outrages already committed
Two formal documents were submit
ted, one setting forth the position or
the Catholic church in Mexico. and
the other reciting numerous instances
OF atrocities perpetrat6z by revolution
airy leaders during the disturbances Ior
the last few years
The statements were prepared to
supplement verbal representations re-
Gently made 10 president Wilson ana
secretary Bryan by the committee
which was appointed by the Baltimore
conference OF the federation
Says Church Neutral.
Describing the political disturbances
which are blamed for the present state
OF affairs in Mexico. the statement
says the attitude Of the Roman cain
Ollie church has been one OF strict
neutrality, striving TO teach the peo-
PIE to respect constituted authority.
LAS far as the Roman Catholic clergy
is concerned. they have held no offices
nor have they been heard in the coun-
ellis of the various governments when
have ruled the country during the last
80 years. They have received no favor
from these governments instead lneE
have patiently borne their oppressive
tyranny. Nor have they taken part IN
their overthrow.
would Uproot All Religions
THE recent revolution differs from
those that preceded it only IN being
more radical In the last century the
radicals and revOlutiOnists retained
some semblance Of the relgIous euu-
cation obtained in their chlldnood- AT
Iii fHr Wnnngr=
nized the necessity of religion. The
present generation Of reYoluuonlsts IS
thoroughly imbued with anu-CnrlsIlan
and anti-spiritual principles me reNO-
lutionists are. therefore, enemies OF
all religion and especially the Catholic
religion. They propose At any cost
TO uprOOt the Catholic religion from
the hearts Of the people Since they
cannot accomplish this by legitimate
means. they resort TO calumny in order
to prosecute the church in the person
Of her ministers and by the destruction
OF the clergy they hope TO erect
the destruction of all religion.
Priests Robbed and Expelled.
THE priests Of all the places which
have been occupied by the revOluuon-
lists have been expelled in a body and
without trial They have been robbed
OF everything they possessed Many OF
them have been thrown into prison.
Others have been tortured Some have
been killed. The bishops have been
so threatened and those that have
fallen into the hands of the revolu-
t.onists have suffered such indignities
that all have been compelled either
to flee from the country or go into
hiding.
Catholic People Outrf zed.
THE Catholic people have been out
ragged in their most sacred religious
sentiments. The number Of outrages
is so great that they would take too
long to state in detail Churches have
been turned into barracks and stables
In Sehuayo. AIichOacan, Il priests were
threatened with death If they did not
pay a ransom. The bishop Of Zacatecas
was also subjected TO ransom. but
had nothing 10 give The Catholics