The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1916-03-18
Atrocities Like the Prosecutions of the Early
Christian Martyrs Suffered by Catholics in Mexico
The Rev. Joseph H. Mchon Our of Iome New York
Presents Facts Obtained from EyWneas the of Dissertation
of Aar Murder Priests and the Torture Of History

were imprisoned. In number about TWENTY-FIVE.
as they were unable To pay the 100000 de-
manded. were exiled being taken to Laredo in
a filthy stock car.
II seems that in the town Of Zamora the ven
cradle Archbishop OF Durango was imprisoned
and with all his priests compelled to sveen tba
streets He was taken. guarded and on foot TO
Piedad. and from there by train TO Irapuato
August p. according 10 the account OF an eye
witness.
In nearly the whole city OF Toluca there
were no priests 10 baptze. for all were in hid.
ing Finally Father Paroles tried to mako
some arrangement. but was able 20 obtain
absolutely nothing. Before this decree was
published which reached even the absurdity OF
prohibiting fasting and modification. etc
In Mexico City, the capital OF the Govern
ment. religion has relatively suffered less.
however Father Paroles set up as Vicar
General About thirty priests have been ar
rested and some OF them beaten For example
Father Laragossa. The House OF Retreat OF
the angels was changed 10 a barracks and the
coniessionals of its oratory burned In the
streets. The Church OF St Bridget was closed
and the Carranzistas took possession OF tho
rectory. etc.
In Pueba. the capital OF the State. Father
Escobedo was placed as administrator OF the
diocese. They dissolved the Cathedral Chapter
and eAiled its members; the confessionals of
many of the churches were taken AWAY ana
stored In cellar. The places in the Cathedral
formerly occupied by the confessionals were
marked with secret society emblems. The pull
PIT or the Cathedral was declared omen 10 all
decree was published suppressing confession
dance was held In the chapel OF the Catholic
College Of the Jesuits. BY another decree all
religious were expelled. They took possession
OF DE la Sale College and others. They made
barracks Of the Episcopal Palace. etc
'Orizaba fell into the hands Of the Carranzis-
tas august "a. -Four days later all nuns were
expelled Afterward, b. proclamation, all
priests We're banished and the churches closed:
all except that OF Fl Calvario. for fear OF the
people Mass. however. was not allowed to be
said there"
The above statements give a very general
idea OF the prosecutions. more detailed re-
port OF these outrages is set forth by another
eyewitness as follows:
Regard for decency will not permit us TO pub-
ltsh tuly the testimony concerning the treat
ment of nuns. OF which the secretary to the
President is not officially cognizant. Some OF it
might not be III reading for such callow youths
as himself and his correspondent. These may
serve as samples, and the secretary to the
President can rest assured that IL he or
his correspondent are still responsive TO
the ordinary rules Of evidence. inquiry OF the
proper people. whom he very well knows will
give him abundant evidence that cannot be
gainsald
Skeptical minds may ind food for reflection
In the following statement by an eyewitness:
In Mexico city have seen with the utmost
regret many religious who have been victims
OF the unbridled passions OF the soldiers Many
] found bemoaning their misfortune being
about 10 become mothers. some in their own
homes and others in maternity hospitals
Others have allowed themselves TO be carried
away by their misfortune and have given up all
filled with despair and shame. They complain
against God saying that they have been aban-
doned by him.
Religious OF various orders have so dressed
themselves, and 80 go about as to hide the fact
that they are nuns. for fear that the revolution
lists may carry them away. Some priests worthy
81 full credit have told me that in a hospital
located In -. there are fifty religious that
were taken away by the soldiers. out OF which
forty five are about 20 become mothers not.
withstauding the fact that they have religious
vacations and were bound by vows.
In the --. in Mexico CITY, are others IN
this same condition. and others also in the
hospital Of -----. In Celaya and Mexico City
have seen many others that were Obliged 20
join the Red Cross. and under this pretext
were held as slaves, treated by the soldiers "a
though they were their own women. and not
giving any attention to the sick. In a great
many cases young women, after having been
compelled TO lead this life. we're thrown into
the street some being killed though they
were animals
found seven religious who asked to be directed
90 "a maternity hospital. claiming not 10 be- re
lgous. but the fact that they we're religious
vas very evident from their manner OF SPEAK.
ms They related 90 me how they were al,Ie
20 escape from the mountains where the rev0
luuoni-is bad held them. tried % console
them. hut So wac useless They said that they
were already condemned aud abandoned bv
God. and were iu such deauairiuF rpnfftio,
tai they cursed The hour OF their profession
Ut any doubt remains as 20 the certainfv ~
These ahOwiuahe outraEes. the foIlov.in,
which is a sworn statement before a notary by
one o. fae most prominent parish priests ~
Mexico titl. ought to put Il AZ rest '.Tf,
stories regarding uufrHges against sisters are
On common In the City OF Mexico that tbev A.,
believed Pos aN have never heard a dental
even Dos those whose interest 10 would he 4,
disrrut' fhUu. Tho common Information a. =,
the erect that many sisters are pregnant
and others suffering from loathsome di.eases
because 90 assaults upon them by revolutionary
soldiers"
Another sworn statement. Tor the publicat,,,
OF uhI". iIl permission was Eiven bv tho
person making &c. feefifes % the same cffe.t
Ih" part OF Che statement which concerns tho
outrarrs is ns follows.
% '1Fc DO ou tIr authority OF Dr --- IN,
permission t0 publish CHI. name AZ tho d,rfr-
ts stU iu McNiCoI. physician in the street
called FOO Mexico that in HE ov.o
private house thero were seventesn sists-.
Who bad been oufrIrod Us rev0IufiorIafs ana
o'rr ir "a pr'rnar. condition also know MAJ
other sisters Iu '.. .Iu. condition u.ra In tba
- Asylum off Mr,l.o city
~ Corona
'rr.t.. fIr secretary to Che President aha
Pos l... unable In fld any records .f ert.
ra... .r ... archives oft Che state Department.
H.. '' ......I..... f'HuEhf IL. rU...arrr fn
call American I....ta auUH ss MGR Kelley and
IH'..f I.'.u.. flaws and aUnHr.IreIa. viii rs
a.'. f' ascertain ... proof ..r f.e above BIO
rugif ..f f. '".set Chat fra American rrrrfs
.-. H'' .m"..'.. .Hf ..H. ..lH.. f1 road