The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-10-03
NJ EXICAN BISHOPS LETTER
DEFENDS HONOR OF THE MExI-
CAN HIERARCHY AGAINST
SLANDERoUS ACCUSATIONS
HAVE PRAYED FOR PEACE AND
NEVER CoUNSELLED REVOLT.
TON. ANS

Fearing lest we should aggravate the
sad condition of our churches, during
the unfortunate circumstances under
which they suffer, we have kept the
profoundest silence in face of the
monstrous and criminal falsehoods
with which some have endeavored to
stain the clean reputation of the Bish-
ops and Clergy of Mexico. But, realiz-
ing on the one hand, that the truly
lamentable state of the prosecuted
Church in our unfortunate country
cannot be worse, and learning with
sad surprise, on the other hand, that
many of those who call themselves
Catholics have believed and spread
reports greatly injurious to the Mex
lean Bishops, we think the moment
has come for us to open our lips in
protest against the vehement assever-
ations with which they pretend to just
ify the unheard of vexations to which
the ministers of God have been SUI
jected, and the ordinations and sac
religious crimes perpetrated against
that which our Catholic religion holds
most venerable and holy. AS we eX-
press our sentiments in this wise, in
compliance with our duty, we do not
mean to Vindicate ourselves in the
eyes of any of the political parties,
but to defend our honor, which is the
sacred honor of our Episcopal dignity
and of our Apostolic ministry, and to
prevent, as far as lies within us, our
beloved children, the faithful whom
Jesus Christ our Lord has placed un-
der our charge, from being scandal
lied by these falsehoods.
First, we should declare that any
person that represents the constituted
government is the legitimate ruler,
and therefore Gods representative and
minister, to whom respect and obedi-
ence are due, according to the inviol-
able principles of the Catholic doc
trine contained in these luminous
words of the Apostle ST. Paul: There
is no power but from God" "He that
resisteth the power, resisteth the ordi-
nance of God, and they that resist,
purchase to themselves damnation."
Rom. xiii
1t is clear and evident that all the
Bishops in general, by means of pas
toral edicts and Episcopal acts of
every kind, have ever defended and
upheld the respect and submission due
to constituted authority. This is why
in January, 1913, the Bishops assem-
bled in the national convention of
workingmen at Zamora, having heard
the rumors that some were plotting
conspiracy to overthrow the consti-
tuted and established government,
deemed it their duty, Should such ru-
mors be true, to address collective
letter to the Catholic party, remind
ing its members of the unlawfulness
of rebellion against the legitimate au-
thority, and cautioning them that
Catholics should take no part in any
movement that might be construed
as rebellion or lack of obedience to
the constituted authority.
We are in a position to ascertain
and state in the face of the world
that neither the Bishops nor the cler-
gy in Mexico have ever contributed
to the best of our knowledge and be-
| lief, to help any of the Revolutions
that have disturbed our country in
these modern times. We, therefore,
protest against the unjust and ground
| less calumny which has given rise to
the cruel persecution raging against
the Clergy and the Catholic Church.
1t is, likewise, false that the Catholic
Church in Mexico, either by means of
financial help or moral influence, has
failed to comply with the strictest
rules of neutrality. No one can pro-
duce proof or convincing argument
to the contrary.
The attitude of the Clergy in gen.
eral, from the Bishops down to the
last Clergyman, has been most noble
and highly worthy of our sublime mis-
sion, which is mission of love and
peace. Our endeavor has always been
directed to obtain peace. We have
preached sweet peace everywhere
Our humble prayers have daily ascend
ed to heaven for the long-desired gift
of peace. We have worked unceasing-
~ for it. And, as is shown by all the
pastoral documents we have issued
from the beginning of the Revolution
in 1910. we have not ceased to speak,