Nogales international., 1926-08-01

C. M M Z N 7
WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT

In a few days, all rellglouS
services in Roman Catholic church
es throughout Mexico will be sus-
pended, by order of the Most Rev.
Mora v de Rio, archbishop OF Mex
leo.
The action is being taken as a
protest against enforcement OF
certain provisions of the constitu-
ton Of 1917. Some of the pro-
visions, indeed, were incorporated
in the Mexican constitution OF
1857 but, in the language of Ma
nuel c.. Teller, Mexican ambassa-
dor to the United States, these
regulations "are being more gen.
orally enforced throughout the re-
public since the establishment OF
complete peace"
American observers of world
affairs may be interested in know
ing precisely what are some of the
laws that are causing a cleavage
between the church and the state
il Mexico.
Article 1870 of the constitution
of 1917 contains most Of the pro-
visions that are Objectionable to
the leaders of the Roman Catholic
church in Mexico.
Among those provisions are:
"Only a Mexican by birth may
be minister of any religious
creed in Mexico.
"No ministers Of religious creeds
shall, either in public or private
meetings, or in acts of worship or
religious propaganda, criticize the
fundamental laws of the country,
the authorities in particular or
the government in general :.
they shall have no vote, or be
eligible to office, nor shall they be
entitled to assemble for political
purposes"
Article 8 of the constitution,
dealing with education, says:
instruction is free; that given
in public institutions of learning
shall be secular. Primary in
struction, whether higher or low
er, given in private institutions
shall likewise be secular. No re-
igious corporation or minister Of
any religious creed shall establish
or direct school of primary in
struction. Private primary schools
may be established only subject to
official supervision. :"
The recent expulsion of foreign
born priests from Mexico and the
closing Of religious schools in that
country have been the chief cause
of friction between the church and
the state in Mexico.
The motives of the Mexican Of
ficials who are enforcing the anti
clerical provisions of the constitu-
ton are interpreted quite diff
ferently by government and
Catholic commentators.
Il Says Ambassador Teller:
"The overwhelming majority of
the Mexican people and adherents
of what has always been and
doubtless always will be the dom
inant religious faith, so far as
matters of religion per Sc are con.
cerned. So, too, were the very
men who adopted the laws thai
are now being enforced, as vel
as those charged with the enforce
ment of all laws. Few, if any
are opposed to religion, most o.
all that Of their own people, wh'
have followed the same form fo1
over four centuries. But, begin
lining with Juarez, the necessit,
for complete separation of churcl
and state was seen and voiced TO
the first time in the laws o
1857-59."
| In the same issue of Curren
History that contains the abov
II expression from Ambassador Tel
Leg, is an article by Constantin
e. Mcclure, Ph.D. (Harvardl
who was from 1915 to 1922 SCI
retary of the high commission 9
ministers of finance Of the Amel
lican republics. DIR. McGuir'
voicing a Catholic viewpoint, hs
this to say concerning tht attitud
of Mexican officials toward tt
Roman Catholic church:
"Since 1875, the anti-Cathol
dictators have set up, with stat
funds, scurrilous and anti -Cathol
newspaper; they have impose
fantastic fines on congregations
the price Of allowing the church,
to remain open; they have loote
affairs and smuggltd stolen alt
vessels across our border to
sold as old metal; they have bur
ed more libraries than were d
I.z--iIs
n|b D.A.McKenzie