San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-21
CONSUL DENIES
LAW VIOLATED
BY EXPULSION
Ruiz Claims Bishop Misin-
formed as to Mexi-
can Laws.
OREGON SOLE JUDGE
Mexican Government Has
No Diplomatic Relations
With Holy See.

Following the press statement Sat.
urday by Bishop 4. ]. DrOssaerts, of
the diocese of San Antonio. to the eff
feet that the so-called reform laws
of Me co had been repealed by the
Carranza constitution of 1917 and that
by high authority on Mexican laws he
held the expulsion of Monsignor
Ernesto Filippi, apostolic delegate to
Mexico, as illegal and unjustifiable,
Mexican Consul General Enrique ID.
Ruiz Saturday questioned .he author
ity quoted by the Bishop and claimed
some of his assertions were mislead-
ing.
Ernesto Filippi entered the United
States Friday at Laredo en- route to
Rome by way of Corpus Christi.
Local dignitaries of the church in
his behalf, said that it was an outrage
that man Of his high office and
standard should be expelled from the
country without n hearing, character
iZing the action as worthy Of TrOtsky
and Lenine. To. Bishop Drossaerts
message of protest, President Oregon
replied that, 1.-The Executive will act
according to obligations imposed on
him by his duty and the laws"
Claims Bishop MisinfOrmed.
Following the receipt of the message
Bishop Drossaerts made the statement
that upon investigation he had found
an authority on Mexican law who
said that the reform laws had been
rep aled, and that article 80 of the
Mexican constitution. by which authoc-
ity Ernesto Filippi had been expelled,
could not legally be applied in his case.
In denial of this assertion, Consul
Ruiz gave out the following state
ment:
AS the statement made in yester-
days papers by Bishop Drossaerts of
the diocese of San Antonio. in connec-
ton with the expulsion of MonSignor
Filippi from Mexico contains some
a tons which are absolutely mis-
leading, l feel compelled 10 clear up
some points that the public might not
be enormously impressed.
Bishop Drossaerts states that the
so-called Reform Laws Of Mexico
were expressly repealed by the Car-
ranza constitution Of 1917 now in force
in Mexico.
The fact Of the matter is that the
articles of the Reform Laws were
actually embodied in the new cOnstitu-
ton of 1917 and consequently they
are now part Of the supreme law Of
the nation. For instance, article "a
reads as follows: Amy and all religious
acts of public cult must be Leld precise
ly inside of the churches, and shall, in
all cases, be under official surveillance
Therefore, it can clearly be seen that
Bishop Drossaerts was misinformed as
to the present laws of Mexico in re-
gard 10 public religious ceremonies.
Discretion Is With the President.
rot nw sine 70 a.t, IL = Al
Mexican Constitution. which the Bishon
claims was applied to Monsignor
Filippi unjustifiably, I beg to quote the
actual wording of this article. which
reds az follows: The Executive of
the nation is empowered, exclusively.
TO eXpel from the national territory.
Immediately, and without previous trial.
whatsoever, any foreigner whose pres.
ence the Executive may consider in
convenient
"The Bishop takes the stand that
this article. expressly provides for the
expulsion from Mexico of 'pernicious
foreigners who mix in the politics of
the country Aud by careful perusal
of the article itself, it will be seen that
this is not the case, since il clearly ap-
plies to any foreigner whose presence
the Executive may consider inconveni-
emit
Denies Governor Was Present.
Bishop DroSsaerts further states
that the apostolic delegate had n
diplomatic character. The Mexican
government does not maintain diplo-
matte. relations with the Holy See, and
therefore, no apostolic delegate can be
officially accredited as such. The
church and state have long ago been
separated in Mexico, and consequently
the government cannot. by any means.
recognize any diplomatic standing in
the papal representative.
Finally, the Bishop asserts that Gov
ernor Madrazo of Guanajuato was
present at the ceremonies in Silao.
which has been fatty denied by the
governor himself. Furthermore, Gov
ernOr Masirazo has publicly stated that
he gave strict orders not to allow any
public ceremonies that would be CON
trary to the constitution of Mexico.
which orders, he claims, were disobey-
ed.
The judicial authorities of Mexico
are carrying on an investigation I'M
order to determine on whom rests the
responsibility for the disobedience to
the orders Of the state officials of
Guanajuato, and the violation of the
laws of the country"