The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-08-14
History of the Catholic Church
in Mexico
BY MANUEL GOMEZ.


MEXICO has two great national
lVI holidays: September 10th, ami
Versary of the "grito de Dolores"
or first declaration Of independence
from Spain in 1910, and May 9Th,
anniversary of the famous defeat of
the French invading army at Puebla
in 1862. The catholic hierarchy now
pretending to speak "in the name of
100000 Mexican catholics" was
aligned with Mexieo's enemies on
both of these historic occasions.
Mexico has two outstanding ma
tional heroes: Miguel Hidaigo,
known as "the Washington of Mex
ico," and Benito Juarez, often re-
ferred to, somewhat inaccurately, as
''the Mexican Lincoln" The former
was soIemnly accommodated from
the Roman catholic church and the
latter was fought by it more ViciousIy
than any other man in Mexican his
tory.
Every step In Mexican progress,
from colonial times to the present
day, has been accomplished only in
the face Of bitter opposition by the
organized forces of Mexican catho-
lies. The record is indisputabIe.
propose to lay that record before the
readers of The DAILY WORKER in
the following brief summary of the
history of the church in Mexico.
For the purpose of securing greater
emphasis have disreaarded the sim
pie chronological form and have ar
ranged the material so as to show:
I. The Social Basis of the Church
In Mexico.
roni2"e The Record of the Church as
Religious Institution.
3. The Record of the Church in
Mexican Political History.
4. The Record of the Church with
Regard to Foreign Intervention.
CHAPTER |.
SOCIAL BASIS OF THE CHURCH.
During the 300 years of Spanish rule
in Mexico the Church of Rome was
well-nigh omnipotent. A majority of
the Spanish viceroys were drawn from
the ecclesiastical hierarchy. The few
who were not were army officers who
represented the interests of the church
quite as efficiently as the priests them
selves.
Turnout this period the government
worked solely in the interests of the
big land owners, of whom the church
itself was chief.
A Semi-Feudal Society.
1t was virtually a feudal society,
with the feudal church seated COM
fortably at the top of the feudal pyra-
mid, along with the landed aristocracy
on which its power was based. Far
below them, and, indeed, far below
the numerically insignificant middle
class" lay The poems. the toilers of the
soil, immensely outnumbering all
other classes, but plunged in the deep
est misery and degradation.
The Spanish king had given to the
various religious orders in Mexico
great grants of land called mercedes"
Not content with their original land
grants, the priests continually used
their power to withhold extreme unc-
ton from the dying as a means Of fore
ing deathbed requests. By these and
other religious practices the church
during the long period Of Spanish DOM
nation became the supreme economic
power and the chief land monopolist
in the country.
Great Wealth Of the Church.
"The clergy mainly the higher Of
fcials, had accumulated and taken
out of circulation an inealeuIable
quantity Of riches. In 1909 the tith-
ings of six bishops amounted to the
sum Of ,ooo-immense wealth
In those days. There were bishops
and archbishops whose salaries ex-
ceeded 100000 year. Indeed, a
careful survey Of church property
just previous to the war Of indie
pendence showed it's combined value