The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-30
THE MEXICAN CATHOLICS.
They Haye Suffered Cruel wrongs At
the Hands Of the Revolutionists.

To III EDITOR OF THE SUN-Str: In
THE SUN Of March 25 there appeared
al interview will Mrs. Mary Burton.
Speaking as a Catholic, she said that
Mexican priests were helping tho Wills
tss with money and sr-,s. and that the
Catholic party draws on It's stores OF
arms and Its wealth for tho benefit OF
these murderous bands"
For a long time Mexican revolution
lists have believed that they could secure
the good will OF a great many Aneri-
cans by the Simple method OF perse-
cutting and abusing the Catholic clergy.
In the beginning they succeeded dd-
mirably, but after a while they dis
covered that the Catholics of this coun-
try we're aroused over the horrible muir
ders n outrages which the revolu-
tionists committed in their zeal to make
"A favorable impression upon what they
imagined was u largo anti-Catholic
population In the United States. The
unfortunate priests and sisters had to
suffer. They were the victims offered
up by tho revOlutionists under both Car
rama and villa as sacrifices to gain
the favor OF Americans. 1t will he many
years before patience and sacrifice can
replace the churches, colleges. schools,
&c. which were destroyed.
To-day Csrranza still hopes. He
knows that hs has been chiefly respon-
sible for the murder of priests and
nuns, for ne was the commander IN
chief. and villa was under his orders.
Carranza's last chance to gain Ameri-
can sympathy, he believes, IL TO have
our people get the idea that the Catho-
lie Church Is with villa. villa himself
has prosecuted the Church. robbed II
and murdered its clergy from the very
beginning. That he does not do so
tp-dpv "a heeattqe ha ANA CNss rnntfuh
10 sec that a mistake Ia been made
The charge that the Catholic clergy
gives arms and money To Villa is alb
surd and ridiculous, I do not wonder
that the large was made, because
these Mexican factions, enra ged against
one another and madly trying TO excuse
themselves for their horrible deeds. will
say anything and get others to say any
thing In their Interest.
Where Ia the nama OF common sense
! could tn. Catholic clergy secure arms
to give To villa in Mexico city. when
Carranza had been there and had taken
all the arms away from the people? From
what store OF arms could the clergy n.
80 generous. and where would they get
money when the property OF the Church
Wa stolen ntty years ago? The income
OF the Archbishop himself is less than
$3.50 q month, according to the letters
| DubllSltl Nv IiS ISL
themselves. And how could the Cath
ole party he giving money and arms
from their store when both villa and
Carrsnza expelled every member OF the
Catholic party who showed any sign
OF being a leader2
The old charge that the Church was
interfering In politics IN Mexico Is moth
ing short of a Joke, Thu ChuDch has
had no power IN Mexico for over fifty
years II did not have power enough
20 save It's own property, which. in
some cases, was given 20 Protestant de
nominations Any one who reads the
Mexican Laws OF Reform knows that
a priest who, for fifty years. had not
even The right 10 appear ON the street
with a clerical collar around his neck
had mighty little chance 70 interfere
in politics II II little more Intelligent
study were given 20 the Mexico Of the
last nifty years We m.c9' have less
trouble IN answering inspired inter
Views FRANCIS G. KELLEY.
Official Re~rresentatlve OF the Exiled
Bishops NJ Mexico.
CHICAGO, March -.