The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-07-04

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Grew. J. w. Riordan of Tacoma.
Wash. reviews Catholic conditions in
Mexico in Church Progress Of Sc
attle.)
In treating Of the condition Of the
Church in Mexico. there is much to
be said that is consoling, much that
is otherwise. What we shall state ID
based upon what we have seen and
heard during a stay Of two years in
the Mexican capital itself.
We shall treat briefly Of the clergy,
the people. the attitude Of the gov
eminent. for thus. we think. we can
give clearer insight into matters
than we could in any other way.
The episcopacy in Mexico is a body
composed of highly intellectual and
Jealous men recruited mainly from
the higher class of Mexicans and edu-
Gated not only in the best schools of
the country. but in the best UNIVERSE
ties Of Rome. The better class Of
Mexicans do not spare money in the
education Of their children. Private
tutors to supplement school work are
very common. and the mind of the
child is often broadened in years in
an American or an English school or
university. not to speak of the many
who spend, moreover, several years
in Germany or in France. The really
educated Mexicans. of whom there
are many. especially in the larger
cities. need not fear comparison with
the best educated the world over. It
is from this class that the Mexican
episcopacy is recruited.
The inferior clergy is made up in
Mexico, as is the case in most. II not
all countries. of the secular clergy
and the members of religious orders.
OF the religious orders we think that
the standard is unusually high. Many
of the members come from France
and Spain, some from Italy and else
where, and these naturally aggregate
to themselves co-laborers of the bet
ter class. OF the Jesuits in Mexico
we can speak with certainty, for we
have lived among them. In zeal, in
broadness Of mind. in kindly charity,
in ceaseless labor, it is easier to ad-
mire than to emulate them.
The secular clergy is composed
mainly of Spaniards and Of natives,
the natives. naturally. constituting
the main body. Here. again. we
think the Spanish members are faith
full to their calling. Exceptions are
everywhere. The chief element of
weakness is in the native clergy.
What we say is not to be misunder-
stood as sweeping condemnation Of
the native secular clergy of Mexico.
The tribute that we have paid its
Bishops who are taken from its ranks
should show that nothing is farther
from our thoughts. But what we as
sert is only what the Bishops them
selves lament and what they are
striving with all the means in their
power to remedy.
The fourishing state of religion is,
as everybody knows, mainly depend
ent on the efficiency of the secular
clergy. They are the great body of
pastors caring for the flock of Christ,
and on their zeal and intelligence and
tact the Church must depend for its
success. The religious orders have
also their part. no mean or unimport-
ant one; but in the grand organiza-
ton of the Church, of Pope anu
Bishops and pastors, it is easily seen
that where the secular clergy is
called upon to supply the main body
of pastors, how essentially it's effici-
ency is intertwined with the success
of the Church.
The main difficulty of building up
thoroughly efficient clergy in Mex
leo is the absence of a large middle
class in the population. There are
the rich and the poor, the land own
ers and the shiftless day laborers,
Indians who live from hand to mouth
perfectly contented if they have a
few cents in their pockets to satisfy
the needs of to-day and never think
ing of the morrow. 1t is easy to say
educate them, elevate them" 1t
might be done in long years of peace
and earnest labor for their welfare.
But in a land too often torn with
civil strife and revolution, such work
has necessarily borne little fruit. 1t
might be done in another cline and
with another race, but with centuries
Of apathy permeating their blood; in
a climate too often enervating rather
than Strengthening, where clothing
is of the simplest and few cents
for food sufficient for their substance,
ambition. even If 1t exists, is not
easily aroused from slumber to &C.
tivity. The middle class among the
native Mexicans is, considering the
size of the nation. negligible guam
tity.
/