The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-08-01
ACTUAL FACTS FROM MEXICO
SOME OF THE ATROCITIES PER
PETRATED BY VILLA AND HIS
FELLoW-BANDITS - NOTHING
SACRED IN THEIR EYES.

SACRED IN THEIR EYES.
The following letter published by
the Catholic Advance" of Wichita
Kan, gives first-hand report of some
of the atrocities committed by Villa
and his followers-the bandits who
are regarded with friendliest feelings
by the American government. The
Advance says: There can be no doubt
of the absolute truth of everything
mentioned by our correspondent.
Sacred Heart Abbey
Sacred Heart, Oklahoma,
July oath, 1914
Our daily press is furnishing us
exuberant reports, more or less
accurate, on the downfall of Huerta
and the various victories of the rebels
but it has been very careful to over
look or even to conceal, the anti-Chris-
tian and anti-Catholic methods of the
present revolution in Mexico.
| wish to present to the public a
few facts, which | have gathered from
very reliable sources. Three Spanish
priests have arrived lately at Sacred
Heart. Okla, refugees from Torreon
Mexico. They are very worthy men
intelligent, educated. For many years
they have done apostolic work in
Mexico. They had charge of the two
Catholic churches in Torreon. Be.
sides they gave missions in many of
the smaller towns where there is no
resident priest. They have been eX-
PEELED for Justice sake"-for having
done good to innumerable souls, re
deemed by the precious blood of Jesus
Christ.
When, after Is days battle, the ban.
dit, Villa entered Torreon with his
troops, these stole from the principal
church, chalice, two ciboriums-
scattering the sacred species on the
floor-and one of the most valuable
copes Villa went to the next cafe tc
drink wine with his generals, in these
consecrated vessels. He gave the
stolen cope to one of bis generals, to
put on his mule.
One of the priests was asked for q
large sum of money. AS he protested
that he could not pay it, he was cast
into prison, where he remained two
weeks. Several times he was told
Tomorrow, at such an hour, bring us
the money, or else you will be shot
The others Fathers succeeded in re
leasing him with $4,000, and then they
were sent on to Ell Paso.
The Sisters of the Incarnate Word
of San Antonio, Texas, had board
ing and day school in Torreon. The
Sister Superior received two insulting
letters from Villa, announcing his
coming. The Sisters left before the
arrival of the rebels.
A young lady of Torreon, a prac
teal Catholic, was forced by Villa tC
marry him. She consented only to
spare the lives of her father and her
brothers, whom the villain threatened
to kill if she refused 1t is said that
Villa had already four wives living
BY the way, the same Villa is report
ed to have lived for a time, a few
years ago, in Muskogee, Okla. AS he
got in trouble with two (pretended)
wives, he had to leave the place.
Another respectable young lady OF
Torreon was attacked by the savage
soldiery of the bandit Villa. AS she
refused to yield to their criminal pro
posals, she was cut in pieces-a true
martyr of virginia. purity.
A mother was sitting on a bench
holding crying baby on her lap. A
soldier passing by told her to make
the child hush. 81 cannot" replied the
mother Instantly, the soldier cut of
the head of the child with his sword
Torreon is in the Diocese of Saltillo
State of CoahuiIa the venerable
Bishop of SaItillo, Jesus Maria Escha
varria, over seventy years old, had
fed to Mexico City, before the arrival
of the rebels.
The Catholic papers have already
reported some of the indignities suf
fered by the priests of Saltillo- the
proclamation of the churches, etc
where soldiers attired in sacerdota.
vestments dared to parade with naked
prostitutes Such shameful excuses
remind us Of the horrors OF the French
revolution in 1883 May the Almighty
God deign to send another Napoleon
Bonaparte to restore peace, order anC
religious liberty in Mexico.
The Pishon of Chihua hua. in snitE
of his infrn1ities, was put in prison
then set free and expelled. Carrsnzs
appointed in his place priest vhr
had been communicated by hi
Bishop for drinking and immortality.
The Bishop OF zacatecas, Miguel d.
| Ia Mora, was asked for $4,000 By the
bandit Villa As he could not furnish
the sum demanded he was thrown int