The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-07-17
THE MEXICAN SITUATION.

We are told that religious lib
erty is about to be restored in
Mexico and we take the an
nouncement with several grains
of salt. If we were to believe
friends of the late unlamented
President Carranza, among whom
are to be numbered many high in
the confidence of the present ad-
ministration, there has been no
dearth Of religious liberty in
Mexico for the past five years at
least. But in spite of the efforts
made by these partisan politicians
the truth about the religious
situation in Mexico could not be
concealed; and American citizens
who do not consider it necessary
to reflect the views Of the party
in power know very we'll that re-
ligious persecution has been the
order of the day in the Republic
to the south Of us.
Now, however, all that is to be
changed. Carranza has been sue
ceeded by President de la Huerta
who has decided that an order
shall be issued by the governors
of Federal States and Territories
to the effect that all churches and
annexes, except those used by the
Federal State Government, shall
be returned to their respective
congregations. He does not say
that such orders have already
been issued. They are to be is
sued at some time in the dim and
distant future.
We are inclined to think that
this statement emanating from
President Huerta is intended
solely for foreign consumption.
He seeks official recognition from
the Government Of the United
States and it is necessary, of
course, that he give some guaran-
tee of his ability to restore peace
IN his own country. His repre-
sentatives are in Washington try
ing to get recognition for the new
Mexican regime. The State De-
partment announces that, as pre-
requisite to the recognition of
Huerta, adequate guarantees will
have to be given by the Mexican
government for the protection OF
American lives and interests, in.
Guiding the persons and property
of Catholic religious; and although
the rights Of Catholic priests and
Sisters and other religious of
American citizenship have not
been specifically covered, it is sale
that they will be embraced in a
general way in the demands
which the new government in
Mexico will have to meet-all OF
which is beautifully indefinite
and practically amounts to ne
guarantee Of religious freedom fol
the Church in Mexico.
AS matter Of fact, we do not
expect those who are now il
power at Washington to do any
more for the preservation OF
restoration of religious liberty il
Mexico than they have done since
the beginning Of the trouble. Il
was their bungling policy Of
watchful waiting" that led tt
the bloody persecution to which
the Catholics Of Mexico have beer
subjected by their self-imposet
rulers. 1t was Americas recogni
ton Of Carranza that made it pos
sible for him to inaugurate thu
reign Of terrorism which robbed
the religious communities of Mex
leo not only Of their rightful pos
sessions but Of that which wa!
dearer to them than life. Hat
the authorities in Washington
dealt with Carranza as he de
served to be dealt with he would
have had to give definite guaran
tees for the protection Of life ant
property. During his tenure O.
office American citizens wer'
robbed of their rightful propert,
and even put to death withou
anything more than a verbal pro
test from this government. NJ
| determined effort was made t,
exact reparation for the insult
and prosecutions to which Ameri
can citizens were subjected be
yond the Rio Grande. What as
surance have we that Presiden
| Huerta will be any better than hi
predecessor? We have been tolt
| that the State Department will
| be much more circumspect il
/ dealing with the new regime il
/ Mexico than it was with the old
| Any amelioration in this regart
7 would be a one hundred per cen