The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-09-08
HISTORY OF MEXICO.
BY Eber Cole Byam.
Part XIX.

since independence has been due to
the efforts of constantly increasing,
but still insignificant minority OF
radicals, whose purpose to destroy
the Catholic Church has been masked
by the specious pretext of strug-
gle to secure Religious Freedom.
While the Catholic Hierarchy of
Mexico quite naturally desired to pre-
serve unity of faith in land where
all were members of the One Church,
there was no disposition to resort to
armed violence in support of it.
Religious freedom, such as is
known in the United States today,
would be considered precious boon
to Mexico, and would find the Next
can Catholic clergy and their follow
ing standing shoulder to shoulder
with their separated brethren to de-
fend it. Instead of this religious
freedom permitting all to dwell to-
gether in unity" the Mexican Lib
erals have sought the complete eX-
tinction of the Catholic Church.
Wherever the Mexican people have
been given even the shadow of an
opportunity to express their real
sentiments, they have voted over
whelmingly for the defense of their
Church This is why the militant
, minority, called Liberal has kept
the country in turmoil and uproar for
nearly hundred years.
Seek to Subject Church to State.
The primary efforts were directed
toward subjecting the Church to the
political control of the State. The
first project was the proposal of the
Liberals" under the leadership of
Valentin Gomez Farias, that the Mex
lean Government appoint the Bishops,
fix the boundaries of the dioceses and
organize new ones; handle all the
Church funds; recognize only such
Church laws as related to dogma, ETC.,
etc. This proposal was presented to
the Pope, with an offer Of 100000
per year as an inducement for him
to accept.
The next attempt was to mortgage
all the Church property as a means
of paying off some of the National
Debt. This project was an inner
itance from the Spanish King, Charles
III, who expelled the Jesuits in 1867
The next effort was directed
towards mortgaging the Church prop
erty to finance the war with the
United States, the active leader in
this being the same Valentin Gomez
Farias. This time the Church author
tiles did contribute to the extent OF
some three million dollars, which
was secured by notes due in eighteen
months, signed by the Bishops.
After the war with the United
States some of the Liberal State
Legislatures passed laws forbidding
the payment of fees for religious
services.
The Beginning of the Great Steal.
The Three Years War" of 1869
placed Juarez and his extremely
radical following in power, and Their
followed the decree of 1859, July II
The following are some of it's arti
Giles:
Article l. All the wealth which the
secular and regular clergy have ad
ministered under various titles
whether in the form of landed prop
erty, taxes or capital, or in whatever
name or form it may have been held
shall become the property of the
Nation.
Article 2. There shall be perfec
independence between the affairs O
the State and the affairs purely eccle
siastical. The Government will limi
ity, the public worship of the Catholic
religion and any other religion.
Article f. The ministers of thu
Faith for the administration of tn,
sacraments and other religious func
tions, will be permitted to receive
gifts and oblations offered in return
for services rendered, but neithe
gifts nor indemnities shall be render
ed in the form of real estate.
Article 5. The existent religious
orders, irrespective of denomination
or for what purpose created, AM
all ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, confraternitie!
and brotherhoods connected with tn,
religious communities, and the cathe
drals, parishes, or any churches
shall be suppressed throughout thu
entire Republic.
Article Z. The books, manuscripts
paintings and antiques, and other OBJ
jects belonging to the suppressed re
ligious communities, shall be turned
over to the museums, public schools
libraries and other public institutions
Article 22 All transfers of wealth
mentioned in this law by any indi
vidual of the clergy, or by any othe
person who has not received author
ization from the constitutional gov
eminent, shall be null and void The
buyer, whether a native or for
eigner, shall be obliged to return
whatever was bought, or its value
and further shall be fined five pei
cent on the value. The Notary au
thorizing the contract shall be de
posed and forever debarred from pub
lie service, and the witnesses shall
suffer the penalty Of from one to foul
years in the penitentiary.
ru1, "