Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-16
Catholicism An
Issue In
| Mexican Politics

Mexico City, Jan. 81 (MaiD--The
Obregon administration has de-
finltely broken with the Catholics in
Mexico, and an antagonism that has
been more or less submerged during
the past two years Is now real and
apparent. The expulsion of Mon
signor Ernesto Filippi, apostolic dele
gate, for his alleged participation IN
an open air religious ceremony con-
trary to- Article "a of the Constitu-
ton of 1857, has provided the Issue
upon which the liberals and con-
servatives have come to open dis
agreement which many observers be-
lieve is prophetic Of bitter strug-
gle for political supremacy.
Even the friends of President
Obregon admit that MS order for the
expulsion of the papal nunico as a
"pernicious foreigner'-he is an
Italian-was prompted by political
expediency. 1t was smashing,
direct blow they say to check the in
flucnce of the Catholics as political
body, not as religious organization.
All quarters construc the act as an
indication of fear by President
Obregon and his advisers that the
once powerful Clerical Party is again
for leadership with an administ,a-
ton, which although more lenient
than some of it's predecessors, Is
fundamentally opposed to the Church.
And Obrcgon expelled the Mon
signor, personal representative of
Pope Plus in Mexico, although the
latter was and is his personal friend
and was many times guest at the
presidential residence.
Smarting under years of repression
dating back to the reform days of
President Juarez. the Catholics " ere
agreeably surprised shortly alter
President ObregOn took office, two
years ago. to find that great de-
gree of religious freedom was to he
permitted. Numerous churches long
closed were reopened; paro-Ilial
schools were again started; priests
and nuns appeared on the street in
clerical garb, a thing unheard Of in
the time of President 60. Carranza.
President Obregon. reiterating his
policy of freedom, often was a church
| visitor on the occasion of some
special function. Til" first lady of
,, the land. Sra. Maria Tapia ObreSon,
is devout Catholic ana is prominent
in the charity work of the church.
But a year or so ago there we're
rllmors of activity IN Catholic ranks
| not all of which was of a religious
character. Reports were circulated
of well laid plans to contest in the
elections. The Catholic or Clcl ical
Party. which polled only a compnra-
| lively few votes against Obregon,
| was revived. Catholics as such con-
! tested for seats in Congress. News
! papers told of anti government
propaganda being spread in the m
| terror by priests, and during the
| past year dozen or more have been
| expelled, giving some Substance to
reports of their activity. Monsignor
| Filippi arrived from Rome and the
clergy of the republic were mob!ized
| to spread the doctrines of the Nati-
can. Many persons in the govern
| mcnt assert they also mixed in poll
| tics.
| The Foreign Secretary. explaining
| to Cardinal Gasparri. papal secretary
! OF state. the reason for the expulsion
| asserted it was because under Mon
SiGnor Filippi's direction the clerical
elements were organizing politically.
| even contrary to Christian prcccpts
When Monsignor l'ilirpi pre-. ided
at an outdoor religious service held
January II near Silao. Guana1uuto,
the government realized the law mad
been violated and that an oppur-
tunity to make an example OF the
highest ranking prela,e in Mexico y as
offered. The Monsignor was i'm
mcdiately ordered expelled and was
given ~ hours to quit the republic.
The apostolic delegate denied there
was an intentional violation Of any
federal or state Law. and asserted his
Willingness to submit TO any and all
laws of the nation. Without oppor-
tunity for defense no was told to
lcave-and he did SO without protest
During the last three days of his
stay here, the Mon signor received the
homage Of virtually the entire
Catholic population of the republlc.
Hundreds stood for hours in front of
bis home in n futile effort to see
nm. kilograms. letters and formal
| protests arrived by the thousands.
The Catholic faithful of the nation.
united in the open for the inst
time in many years. were not afraid
to show their sympathy for the pre-
late and their bitterness against tho
government. Thousands were at the
railway station to say farewell TO the
MonslSnor the night he left but, in
order to avoid possible trouble, he
slipped out of the city and tool, his
place in a border bound train in a
suburb.
m And there the situation rests today
-SmoulderinE resentment on the
part of the Catholics and vigorous
defense of its action 10y the govern
inent which is supported by the
radical and anti-clarical groups.
Many see in President Obrcgon's
move a fear of the growth of The
fascisti movement. which has
many Catholics in its ranks. MANY
predict that the CLERICAL Party viii
now start to function in the open as
an opposition force. All arc worder-
ing whether the unexpected attitude
OF PRESIDENT Ohrcgon against the
Monslgnor will be followed by others
OF similar nature. IN view oe the
TACT that Mexico is normall, a
Cathollc country. rome interesting
deVelopmenas may be expected.