Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1914-07-29
CHURCH OEcREEO MENACE TO MORALS
YIarsaI Says Catholic Activity has Been
Yoke 10 Msxican People

I0ke 10 MexiCdn fe0pi8
Tampico, Mexico, July ~,
"A decree limiting the scope
of the Romano Catholic Church
in the State of Nuevo Leon
on the ground of "puhlic
health, morality and justice
was issued today by Antonio
| Villareal, Governor and
military commander. He
said:
"During the life of the Ma
ton, the Church has been
a pernicious factor in disrup>
ton aud discord and has en-
tirely forgotten its spiritual
mission"
The most drastic feature of
the decree is the prohibition
ofconfession. Villareal gives
as Ehis reason for this the
charge that the confessional
and the sacristy in Mexico
have become a menace morals
itY.
The decree issued in Mon
terey, makes the following
orders for government Of
Catholic schools and churches
"1-All fori+ gn Catholic
priests and jesuits of what
ever nationally will be expel~
led from the State of Nuevo
Leon.
"2-Of the remaining Cath
Ollie priests those who cannot
prove their complete absten>
ton from politics will be ex-
PEELED.
"3-Churches will remain
open daily from six in the
morning until one in the af>
ternoon. Onlypriests having
permission to do so will be
permitted to offciate.
'4-Confession is prohibits
ted.
'5-The public is prohibits
ted from enteringthe sacristy.
'6-Church bells shall
ring only to celebrate priests
in honor Of the country, or
for triumphs Of the arms of
the Constitutionalists.
'7-All Catholic colleges
shall be closed which do not
obey programs and texts Or
dered by officials and which
do not have at their head
some professor who is a grads
uate of the normal schools Of
the country, who will be pun>
|ishable by a fine Of 800 meat
for any infraction af the ru-
Ter,
"8-Any infraction of the
laws will be punishable by a
fine of 800 to $500 and ar
rest and Imprisonment from
2 to 4 months, or both fine
and imprisonment. In event
of a second offense the school
will be close"
Explaining the grounds for
this action, Villareal's decree
reads:
I'm the interest of public
health, morality and justice
the State of Nuevo Leon will
limit the scope of the Catho-
lie Church, which during it's
life has entirely forgotten it's
spiritual mission, its sole
right to be recognized by
modern society. The Church
has consecrated itself ,princi-
pally to- conquest in politics.
To secure it's objects it always
has been allied with the re-
dictionary government and
the despots and even with
foreign invaders. 1t has
showed itself an implacable
enemy to the Liberal moves
ment and progress from the
first revolution Of Ayutla un-
til the present time, and has
Illuminated it's ridiculous ex-
communications over the
the most grand and glorious
henefactors of the country,
Hidalgo, Juarez and Lerdo de
Tejada.
THE pictorial and clerical
rulings Of Porfrio Diaz and
Huerta, against which the
Mexican people have been
struggling herocially for many
years, have had its benedic>
ton for the crimes and corr
ruptions of Huerta and has
unsuccesefully worked to in.
cite the public against the
Constitutionalist cause"
Some of the c~eremonials OF
the Church were criticised,
Villareal alleging that in
Mexico they have rendered
-1,l -on1 &c ~-D1