The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-08-15
CARRANzA BANS
1|J};H IN MEXICO
Priests forbidden to Inhabit Terri
tory Under control of Con-
stitutionalists.
Orders Issued by Villa Give Idea of
Church Situate n in
Mexico.
lElEl&
Movement Headed by Villa and
Carranza not Democratic but
Anti-Religious.

The attitude of Carranza and his
followers toward the Church in Mex
leo is shown by the following orders
issued by Villa and Vallareal of
Tampico:
General Francisco Villa in state
ment issued virtually declared him
self absolute ruler of the church in
his territory when he announced
that in future all priests and curates
in his territory will be appointed by
State officials subject to approval by
General Villa instead of a regularly
ordained bishop OF the Catholic
Church.
General Villas first step in this
radical movement was the appoint
ment of Father Antonio Janet to the
Juarez diocese. Father Janet will
assume charge of the diocese at
once. Other appointments are ex-
pected to be made this week.
This method of procedure Gin the
establishment of an honest church
in Mexico" is original with the
COMMUNICATIVE chief Of the northern
division, and he believes it has
solved the problem once and for
always.
Villas cherished plan to separate
church and State, this new move on
his part will bring the two together
more firmly as under the new plan
the church is TO be directly under the
State government. The various
State Governors will, for the most
part, appoint the priests and other
clergymen and will be responsible
to General Villa for their actions.
Appropriation will be made from
the State treasury for the support of
the church and liberal sum wilt be
laid aside annually for charitable
work among the poor. This latter
sum will be placed in charge # a
committee which will have for ITS
work the investigation and study Of
social conditions among the prole-
tariat element.
They will be empowered to use
the appropriation in remedying I'm
usual cases of suffering amon:; the
poor. While this announcement
came as a surprise to everyone
around the general when he made it.,
he sat in his private car and calmly
watched his hearers faces as he re-
cited his plan in detail.
II believe l have settled the
church problem" he said quietly.
II am going to appoint the priests,
curates and other clergymen myself,
instead of having them appointed
by an archbishop who does not
know them, and who does not under
stand the people of the district to
which he sends his emissaries. OF
course ( am going to make my first
selections from those tlergymen who
have been in Mexico, but who have
refrained from mixing in the ma
tons politics. When have ex-
hausted this supply I will choose
men who are educated and who
really understand what the church
means. 1T has often been quoted
that l am trying to abolish the
church entirely, but this is a lie.
Religion in a modified form is a
good thing. but it must not be per-
meated with affairs of state and pol
itics to be successful. This has not
been the case in Mexico during the
past years, but I shall earnestly en-
deavor to make new church grow
up-one that will benefit the people
and not the priests"
A decree limiting the scope of the
Catholic church in the State Of Nu-
evo Leon on the ground of public
health. morality and justice" has
been issued by Antonio I. Eillareal.
governor and military commander.
During the life of the nation. -
he said, "the church has been per-
nicious factor in disruption and dis
cord and has entirely forgotten its
spirit mission"
The most drastic feature Of the