Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-10-22
CATHOLIC CLERGY
DEMAND REDRESS
Persecution of the Church in
Mexico Alleged by Fedora
ton Committee.
FORMAL APPEAL FILED
AT STATE. Department
Numerous Instances Cited of Out
RACES and Atrocities Suffered at
Hands of Revolutionists.

An appeal to the American govern
ment and people to protect the Catholic
clergy and church in Mexico, and de-
mand PREPARATION for outrages already
committed. was filed with the State
Department today by a committee of
the American Federation of Catholic
Societies. Two formal documents were
submitted. one setting forth the posi-
ton of the Catholic Church in Mexico
and the other citing numerous in
stances of atrocities perpetrated by
revolutionary leaders during the dis
turbances for the past few years.
In conclusion. the appeal said:
We trust the American people will
realize that they are in honor bound
to defend us, to demand satisfaction for
the fragrant violation of the recon-
mendations which were made by them
to Carranza and his followers. If this
he not DONE then the declaration of the
Carranzistas will be confirmed that
whatever they do is done with the
knowledge and appreciation of the
Washington government"
Supplement Oral Representations.
The statements were prepared to sup
plement oral representations recently
made to President Wilson and Secretary
Bryan by the committee which was ap-
pointed by the Baltimore conference of
the federation. Rev. Richard H. Tier
ney, S. j., of New York; Henry V. Cum
ningham and John Whalen of Boston
are the members of the committee.
Describing the political conditions
which are declared to be responsible
for the present state of unrest in Mex
of the Roman Catholic clergy has been
one of absolute neutrality, striving
only. to teach the uneducated classes
obedience and respect for constituted
authority.
The revolution, which will shortly be
in control of the government in Mex
ico.' said the statement, has proclaim
ed as necessary means for the estab-
lshment and working out of its pro-
gram the suppression of three ella sses
obstacles to its purpose, the regular
army, the Roman Catholic party and
the large landholders.
Not Recipients of Favor.
LAS far as the Roman Catholic
clergy is concerned, they have held no
offices nor have they been heard in the
councils of the various governments
which have ruled the country during
the past fifty years. They have receiv-
ed no favor from these governments;
instaed. they have patiently borne their
oppressive tyranny. Nor have they
taken part in their overthrow.
THE present revolution differs from
those that preceded it only in being
more radical. In the past century the
radicals and revolutionists retained
some remembrance of the religious ed
ucation received in their childhood. AT
least. they believed in God and recog-
nized the necessity of religion.
The present generation OF reVoiu-
&c
anti-Christian and anti-spiritual prin-
ciples They are therefore enemies OF
all religion, and especially the Cathoiic
religion. They propose at any cost to
hearts of the people. Since they cannot
accomplish this by legitimate means,
they resort to calumny, in order to
prosecute the church in the person OF
of the clergy they hope to effect the
destruction of all religion.
Expulsion of Priests.
The priests of all places which have
been occupied by the revolutionists
have been expelled in body and with
out trial They have been robbed OF
everything they possessed Many OF
them have been thrown into prison.
Others have been tortured. Some have
been killed. The bishops have been so
threatened and those that have fallen
into the hands of the revolutionists
have suffered such indignities that alt
have been compelled either to flee from
the country or go into hiding.
The Catholic people nave been out
Ia @ed in their most sacred religious
sentiments. The number of profana-
tons is so great that they would take
too long to state in detail. Churches
have been turned into barracks and
stables. In Sehuayo. Michoacan, eleven
priests were threatened with death if
they would not pay ransom. The