Evening star., 1926-11-20
POPE CONDEMNS
MEXICO TYRANNY
Calls on Catholics in All
Lands to Continue Their
Prayers for Victory.
BY the A ssociated Press.

Bs nv AsNo'1dte1
ROME, November 20.-Pope Plus,
in an encyclical published today,
condemns the bloody tyranny" suf-
fered by the clergy and faithful in
Mexico. exhorts those in other lands
TO continue prayers in behalf of the
Mexicans. and expresses faith in the
final victory OF the church.
He enlarges upon two themes. the
Increasing violence Of the persecu-
sion. including attacks on young
women and the growth Of coura ge-
ous. though peaceful resistance.
He examines especially "the arbi-
trary character Of the socalled polit-
ical constitution OF 1917 and the in
tolerable way in which the condi-
tions Of the Catholics have been
rendered, even more tragic by the
recent and even more odious law
and by its violent applica ton, ac-
companied by the grossest abuses of
authority. reaching bloody tyranny"
Compared to Martyrs.
The principal excesses of this
tyranny, verified by incontestable
testimony. he says, have been direct
ed not only against holy places and
persons. but also against those citi-
zens who are most openly Catholic,
and who. therefore. are suspected of
aversion for the anti-religious laws
OF their rulers.
The description OF conditions in
Mexico, the encyclical says, recalls
the atrocities of the worst periods of
persecution, including the French
TIN recently glorif1ed. thinking also
of their imitatcrs, the martyrs of
Mexican persecution"
In contrast to the gloomy picture of
the horrors of the persecution. the
Pope described the splendid spectacle
of resistance offered by bishops, priests
and laymen. especially the members
OF the principal Catholic associations,
which he praises by name.
These include the knights of Column
bus, the Federau for Defense of Re-
lig1ous Liberty. the Association of
Mexican Catholic Youth, and the
Union of Mexican Catholic Women.
all of which, he says have earned the
gratitude Of the church and their
country.
Mentions Principal Heroes.
He mentions the principal heroes in
the fight for religious liberty, recalling
with especial love and pride" those
youths who. being asked to cheer for
their prosecutor, preferred death,
which they met with rosaries in their
hands, exalting Christ as King.
He also recounts the even more hor-
rible fate of Christian virgins who, the
encyclical says, have with Satanic
hate" been imprisoned and subjected
in prison to the worst ill.treatment.
The Pope then recalls the divine
promise Of future victory and the i'm
mortality Of the church. even amid
the most terrible storms, and ex-
presses the hope that the prosecutors
themselves may repent, realizing how
much their country and they them
selves owe to the church and the
Catholic religion.
Cites Progress of Faith.
All good, civilization and progress
existing in Mexico, the encyclical de.
clares, came through the Catholic re-
ligion, which first saved the country
from the greed of it's conquerors. and
later from the reaction of the natives:
then enriched it with the splendors of
religion, with all the benefits of the
Catholic religion, with institutes of
charity and benef1cence. and with
schools of all grades and kinds.
Finally, the Pontiff invokes Our
Lady of Guadalupe to forget the
offenses she has suffered and obtain
for the Mexican people peace and con-
cord, and II this should be delayed, to
intercede for Divine comfort for the
prosecuted "xicans. consolidating
them in their resistance to laws which
deprive them Of the liberty OF profess
ing their religion