The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-07-04
Condition of the Chu, cb IN Mex co

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Too large proportion Of the Mex
lean clergy are Of the lower classes.
Too often. in spite of the Bishops
wishes. are they sent out young and
inexperienced into places where they
are thrown upon their own resources.
but the need Of priest is so impera-
tive that the sacrifice has to be made.
You will say. better no priest at all
than an ill-equipped one. We leave
the decision Of the point to the better
judgments than our own, the juds-
ments Of the Bishops of the country,
believing what they do is the best
that can be done under the circum.
stances.
AS a religion among the people.
they are. for themost part. Catholic
in name. AS a practice, we must
make many distinctions. In the high
er classes. the wives and daughters
for the most part are sincere and
practical; and to their devotion to
home and family is largely due the
firm and practical faith rooted In
many a Mexican heart. OF the men,
as much cannot be said, The influ-
ence Of French ideas, of German ra-
tionalism, of American indifference,
is largely noted. Still there is a
large proportion of sincere and prac-
tical Catholics, full-hearted in devo-
ton to all that religion requires.
OF the common poems who form
some five-sixths Of the population,
religion is too often reduced to bap-
tism for most, first communion for
many, deathbed confession for the
vast proportion Of such as get the
opportunity. We say too often with
out denying the other side, that the
faith and devotion of large numbers
of these simple people might put our
own to the blush. Missions at which
there are twenty thousand commun-
ions are not unknown, nor are the
examples of poems travelling twenty
or thirty miles to make their duties,
and kneeling all night by the confess
sional matters of rare occurance. Yet
it cannot be denied that the preva-
lence of marriages of convenience
among them saps the foundation Of
Catholic practice. True marriages
can scarcely be called the rule. The
women frequently do not care to
marry, asserting that they are bet
ter treated when they are free to de-
part should i'll usage be their por-
ton. Unable on account Of these
conditions to approach the sacra-
ments-living in squalor. they and
their numerous progeny huddled to-
gether in the same room-morality,
the root of religion, has little chance
to thrive and bear fruit. In Mexico
City itself we doubt whether one
tenth of the population hears Mass
on Sundays. Whether the proper
ton elsewhere is as large or larger
we cannot Ay from personal expert
ence, though we have reason to be-
lieve the same apathy exists.
The largeness of the parishes in
the Capital city precludes the effect
i've work which is common among
our own pastors. In a city of over
100000 inhabitants there are. we be-
lieve, some eight parish churches.
There are numerous supplementary
churches, mainly in the heart of the
city, under the care of religious or
ders. But efficient work among the
people must be done, as we have
shown, by the pastors. What hope
of real pastoral care is such a con-
dition of affairs? Evidently none.
Much may be and is accomplished
by zeal and self-sacrifice, but no pas
tor. however Jealous. ever aided by
three or four assistants, however eff
ficient, can cope with such a prob
lem. 1t will take all their energies
to satisfy the calls of the fervent of
their flock, leaving little opportunity
or time to reach out into the apa-
thetic mass that hedges them on
every side.
But what is the Archbishop Of
Mexico doing" you will say. Why
not divide up the parishes and build
churches all over the city as our
Bishops do? Why not? Because he
cannot. Eminent as he is in zeal and
learning, the Infamous and unjust
laws of Mexico tie his hands. The
very churches under his control are
not his, for every dollar of church
property has been confiscated long
since by the Mexican government.
The use of the churches has been
conceded, but the title is invested in
the government. He could not build
without permission, and permission
would be denied him. He could not
build without funds. and whence is
he to get them when the overnment
would swoop down and take the
buildings once they were erected?
Let us put ourselves in his place and
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