Evening star., 1926-09-01
GALES OUTLINES
RELIGIOUS STAND.
Declares Government Execu-
tives Have Obligations to
Carry Out Nations Laws.
BY LELAND III. REESE.

when President PlutarCO Elias Gales
of Mexico. received this correspondent
at the castle of Chapultepec. he was
cordial and indicated his pleasure In
discussing the affairs Of his country
with an American newspaper man.
Especially he appreciated the oppor-
tunity to give the American people
his views on the religious conflict.
Senior Gales had been suffering
with a cold and his partial illness
added to the strain under which he
has been working for the last fort
night. He had the manner Of a bust
ness man forced to remain at his desk
despite an aching molar.
When asked to comment upon the
troversy, President Gales, after care
fully choosing his words, said:
"A precedent was established when
met the Catholic spokesmen to dls-
cuss the religious situation. In the
past, Mexican executives have recelv-
ed the churchman. but not In tnelr
official capacity as Mexican state
rulers. AS far as the government
was concerned. the overtures looking
toward q suspension of the penal code
governing religious cults were con.
cluded at the close Of our first ana
only conference. I told them that my
that the provision under dispute was
sound and legal and as a consequence
l could not assume q passive ATTITUDE
regarding it's enforcement.
"Outlined Logical Procedure.
II outlined to them the logical pro-
cedure-an appeal to the national Su-
preme Court for q stay or execution
until Congress met in September.
With that I felt that the state had
met the church at least half way III
this unpleasant affair."
President Gales continued his dls
cussion by expressing the belief that
all religions-Catholic. Protestant,
Buddhist, Jewish and MOhammedan-
all are good because they have lor
their end universal morality. he de
MED vigorously that the reform laws
are directed against the Catholics or
any other particular denomination.
When asked If foreign Protestant MIN
listers would be allowed to continue as
the heads of churches in Mexico,
Gales said:
1T cannot be, because the constitu-
ton clearly states that priests and
ministers of all religions must be
Mexican by birth
THE Catholic religion has great
defect" continued President Gales.
Dogma cannot be discussed because
the church is considered infallible and,
as a consequence, cannot be mistaken.
The priests have put this idea into the
brains of the ignorant and have pro.
voked great agitation on matters or
small consequence. 1t prevents the
people from thinking and deceives
them. If the Roman Catholic clergy
could terminate the existence Of other
religions, they would do 1t. For them,
there is no other religion than their
own
Holds Law Must Be Enforced.
President Gales. was silent for a
moment. He had been meeting all
questions as soon are asked. lie had
the manner of man surcharged with
passion. He was asked about the
report that the Catholics had resolved
to leave the solution of the Mexican
problem in the hands of the Pope.
Senior Gales faced his questioner
with blood coursing sharply through
his face.
"The Mexican government is in no
controversy with the clergy he said.
'The Mexican government, and more
especially the federal executive, has
an obligation in the fulfillment OF the
constitution and the laws that are
built upon it.
IT know Of no reason why Catho-
lie priests or any one else should re-
fuse to comply with the provisions
Of the law, especially one so insignih-
cant as making statement berore
the proper authorities that they are
in charge of the churches and that
they be incumbent as one man or
another.
The government is prohibited from
administering the churches. The tenn
pies are the property Of the nation.
What less could the government as
owner Of these edif1ces expect than to
know definitely what persons are In
charge of them? The government is
not interested in acts of doctrine or
things merely spiritual. So the
clergy's fear that the government is
trying to oust the church organiZa-
ton from its control Of the priest
hood is childish and innocent. This is
not the reason for the struggle. There
is something else.
"The only object Of the registration
Of priests is to know those who are
in charge of the churches and who
are responsible for the valuable con-
tents. These are, as I have said. the
property of the nation. The only
genuine representative of the people
is the government. The object of the
registration is for the purpose OF keep
ing police statistics made necessary for
a variety Of reasons. The government
should have these facts, and it should
keep control of what 1t owns. Should
not every one have the right to exact
from those administering their prop
erty information as to who they are?
Seek to DisOwn Constitution.
What the Catholics desire is to
disown the constitution. That is the
heart of the conflict. No one has the
right to disown the constitution. Not
even in past ages when nations we're
governed by Catholic kings was Rome
allowed to interfere in the internal
government of states. How can they
now pretend to NEEDLE in this coun-
try?
1.-THE problem is not for Mexico
alone. 1t belongs to all Latin Amer
lea. In the United States there is no
serious religious trouble. but in our
countries the foreign priests and espe-
cially the Catholic priests have caused
calamity. All the outcasts of Rome
ooJ I@,,rono haxro hoop cant m oy,r