Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-10-24
Cite Numerous Atrocities Per-
petrated by the Revolution
airy Leaders.
Attitude of Catholic Clergy Has
Been One of Absolute
Neutrality.
PATIENTLY BORNE OPPRESSION

An appeal to the American Gov
ernment and people to protect the
Catholic clergy and church in Mexico
and demand reparation for outrages
already committed was filed with
the State Department at Washing
ton on Wednesday by a committee Of
the American Federation of Catholic
Societies. Two formal documents
were submitted, one setting forth
the position of the Catholic church
In Mexico and the other citing
numerous instances of atrocities
perpetrated by revolutionary leaders
during the disturbances for the past
few. years. The statements were
prepared to supplement verbal rep
reservations recently made to Presi-
dent Wilson and Secretary Bryan by
the committee which was appointed
by the Baltimore conference of the
federation. The Rev. Richard H.
Tierney, s. j., of New York; the
Rev. Henry v. Cunningham, Of
Boston, and John Whalen, President
of the federation, are the members
of the committee. Describing the
political conditions which are de-
clared to be responsible for the
present state of unrest in Mexico,
the committee asserted the attitude
of the Roman Catholic clergy has
been one of absolute neutrality,
striving only to teach the unedu-
Gated classes obedience and respect
for constituted authority.
"The revolution which will
shortly be in control of the Govern
ment in Mexico" said the state
ment, has proclaimed, as a neces-
sary means for the establishment
and working out of its programme,
the suppression of three classes,
which 1t considers to be insuperable
obstacles to it's purposes, the regular
army, the Roman Catholic clergy
and the large land holders. AS 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 re-
ceived no favor from these govern
ments. Instead they have patiently
borne their oppressive tyranny. Nor
have they taken part in their over
throw.
1.-THE present revolution differs
from those that preceded it only in
being more radical. In the past
century the radicals and revolu-
tionists retained some remembrance
of the religious education received
In their childhood. At least they
believed in God and recognized the
necessity of religion. The present
generation of revolutionists are
thoroughly imbued with anti-Chris-
tian and anti-spiritual principles.
They are therefore enemies of all
religion, and especially the Catholic
religion. They propose at any cost
to uproot the Catholic religion from
the hearts of the people. Since they
can not accomplish this by legitimate
means, they resort to calumny in
order to persecute the church in the
person of her ministers and, by the
destruction Of the clergy, they hope
to effect the destruction of all re-
ligion.
"The priests of all places which
have been occupied by the revolu-
tionists have been expelled in body
and without 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 all have been
compelled either to flee from the
country or go into hiding. The
Catholic people have been outraged
in their most sacred religious senti-
ments. The number Of profana-
tions is so great that they would
take too long to state in detail.
Churches have been turned into bar
racks and stables. In Sehuayo,
Michoacan, eleven priests were
threatened with death If they would
not pay a ransom. The Bishop OF
zacatecas was also subjected to ran
som. but had nothing to give. The
Catholics freed them from captivity
with the money they had gathered
In order 70 placate the revolution
lists"
The statement declared there has
been a continuation of outrages
against the Catholic church and
communicants from the latter part
Of the Diaz regime to the present
day. The activities Of Generals Car
rama. villa. Obregon. Lucio Blanco,
Rafael. Beulma. Benjamin Hill and
other OF the revolutionary leaders,
II was asserted. had been such that
II could not be said that the out
RACES were committed only by the
soldiers and without their know
ledge. Numerous instances. OF al
legged spoilation of church property,
OF plunder and pillage OF private
properties owned by Catholics and
of other outrages suffered by church
dignitaries we're cited. In one case
u Is asserted. fifty nuns. Ladies o.
the Sacred Heart, and number o.
other refugees were lodged thre'