The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-08-01

v0aseel Piacss severe Restriction
Upoo Activities of tho Roman
Ps1ssGs.

vnnreel Psacss severe Restrictions
Upoa Activities of the Roman
Presses.
rampico. July 20. (via Laredo.
Tsxas. July 2s.)--A decree limiting
The scope OF the Roman Catholic
charch In the state OF Nsuvo Laredo
on the ground OF public health. NOR
sitey and Justice was issued today by
Astoaso I. viliarsal. governor and
military commander. He said:
During the life OF the nation. the
eAurch has been . pernicious factor
n disruption and discord and HAS en-.
si9eiy forgotten its spiritual mission"
sThs most drastic feature of the de-
cfss isSths prohibition Of confession.
vllaassal gives a. his reason for this
tns' charge that the confessional and
sAs. sacristy In Mexico have become Q
ulsnacsF to morality. m
The decree issued In Monterey
mAkss the following orders for gov
sfnmsnt OF Catholic schools and
churches: "a,
\ 4. All foreign Catholic priests and
.JhGuits OF whatever nationality will be
,shpsllsd from the State Of Nuevo
.l.son.
3. OF the remaining Catholic priests
,thoss who can not prove their COM
plsts abstsnsion from politics will be
sipsilsd.
.. Churches will remain open daily
ftom 9 In the morning until In the
aftsrnoop. Only priests having per-
upission to do 90 will be permitted to
oAbciats.
-. e. Confesion II prohibited.
.. The public 10 prohibited from
entering the cacristy.
o. Church bells snail ring only to
eslebrats fiestas. In honor Of the coun-
/. ny. or for triamphs Of the arms Of
the copstitutio naiists.
2. All Catholic colleges shall be
clossd which do not obey programmes
aad text ordered by ofYiciais and
which do not have at their head some
professor who Is a graduate OF the
sormai schools OF the country. who
win b responsible to the governme mt
for any infraction Of the rules.
.. Any infraction Of these laws will
b punishable by fine Of 800 to $500
and arrest and imprisonment from
two to four months. or both fine and
imprisonment. In the event Of q Sec
ond offense the school will beciosed.
Explaining the grounds for this ac-
tion. viiiarears decree reads:
In the interest OF public health.
morality and Justice. tho State Of
Nusvo Leon will limit the scope Of
the Catholic church. which during
IL life has entirely forgotten its
spiritual mission. Its sole right to be
recognised by modern society. The
church has consecrated itself princi-
psily TO conquest In politics. To Sc
cure its object II always has been
allied with the reactionary govern
mont and thu despots and even with
foreign invaders. II has showed itself
an impiacable enemy to the liberal
movement and progress from the first
revolution Of Ayutla until the presenv
time. and has illuminated It's ridicu-
ious accommodations over the most
grand and glorious defenders Of the
country. Hidaigo. Juarez and Lero de
Tejads.
Tho pictorial and clerical rulings
Of Porforio Diaz and Huerta, agains,
which the Mexican people have been
struggling herocially for many years.
have had the sympathy and assistance
Of the Mexican church; the chufch
has had Its benedfctions for the crimes
and corruptions of Huerta and has
unsuccessfuily worked to incite the
public againt the constitutionalist
cause"