The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-08-01
:LAITY KEEP
CHURCHES IN
MEXICO OPEN
Religious Services Secretly
Conducted in HOmcs-Pricsts
Liable to Arrest
CATHEDRAL Is CLOSED
u-IsLust A Year Ago Yester.
day Since Government En-
forced Regulation
CATHEDRAL Is CLOSED


Mexico City, Aug. Up - Since
one year from yesterday. Mexico has
:been without pricstly ceremonial in
any Catholic church, as result of
sthe -egYcrnmcnt's religious regula-
Probably no other country over
sMQ EN- Ugly Catholic has ever known
"a TIVE lvemonth wherein no priest of
that faith has officiated in any Of
Its churches.
The Mexican Episcopate ordered
its priests to withdraw from their
churches and to cease services there
in, concurrently with the taking cf-
3cct Of the religious regulations. as
n protest against them. Until that
time Catholic services by priests in
Its chuckhcs had never in Mexico
been stilled for a day since the Span
ssh Con1uistadorcs brought the Cross
70 the. western world four centuries
ago and planted it in the ruins of the
Aztec Empire which they overthrow.
Mcxico's religious problem has cx-
listed since the middle Of the last
century, but it had slumbcrcd for
several decades until made acute
again last year by President Gales
PRONUNCIATION Of the present regula-
tiOns.
!. INSTRUMENTATION limit and super
wise activities Of the church and its
priests@za,d require the latter to reg
4ster-w4fh the civil authorities. Cath
Olics maintained that such registra
tion would be acceptance of the Mex
lean government instead of the Pope
&s the supreme authority Of the
church, that the regulations menaced
rn1I Vs uStIf tIfn nf h
olic persecution, and would destroy
that church in Mexico. Gales in
sisted that his only purpose was TO
rn. orcc the Mexican constitution.
Neither side has yielded
Term Expires in 1928
: allies term OF office expires De-
G, ,,bcr ], 1928. Catholics hope the
controversy may be adjusted under
HIS successor, if no compromise can
be accomplished sooner.
During this year of deadlock be-
tween the government and church, IA
xo-called Catholic revolution has been
suppressed by the federal authori
ties; the foremost archbishops and
bishops Of the Catholic church have
ben expelled from Mexico and are ex-
lies in the United States, mostly in
San Antonio, Texas, and many Cath
Ollie laymcn have been arrested on
charges by the government that they
plotted revolution.
Recently President Gales ordered
The release of Catholics imprisoned
on sedition charges. The presidents
announced reason was that since the
attempted Catholic revolution had
failed, the alleged lay plotters were
no longer a menace to the govern
Il Il IL 49, lxnn ,vvtn inv,
prisOnment.
/. With the exception Of the great,
historic Mexico City cathedral, other
places of worship have continued
open. The cathedral has been closed
a year. Churches are in charge of
citizens committees. Worshippers
4nter them at will Services are
conducted by the laity. both men
snd women, insofar as it is possible
Tor them to replace priests. Relig-
ious services are secretly performed
IN private residences, although
priests and participants are subject
to arrest.
! Catholic church property in Mexico
was declared nationalized in 1856.
The constitution of 1857 and the
sreform laws" Hereunder deprived
the Catholic church of much proper
ty, placed sharp restrictions upon it's
activities and caused the reform
wars" which lasted three years and
amounted to a religious war. Juarez,
reform leader, won. In 1861 he ban
Hhed Catholic bishops and the Papal
Euhcio from Mexico and turned over
great tracts Of church land to the
people.
: Then the pendulum swung the
other way. There was the French in
6rvention, Maximilian's Inflated en-
pire, the rise to power Of Porfirio
Diaz. The bitterness of religious
var. subsidized. The religious laws
became dead letters. In 1911, Diaz
Who had been president of Mexico
fDr '27 consecutive years. and for all
practical purposes dictator, was over
thrown by the Madero revolution
Diaz had not mOlestcd the Catholic
church.
Torn by Civil War
From the beginning of the Madero
evolution in 1910 until General Al
varo Oregon became president in
1920, Mexico was constantly torn by
civil war and no attention was paid
to the religious problem. Obregon's
administration knew some revival OF
ne .problcm, but still there was no
acute issue.
Meanwhile the 1917 constitution
embodiment of the principles of the
revolution that overthrow Diaz, re-
2rote all the old reform war" re-
hgious regulations and made them
more drastic and comprehensive
THAT constitution also produced the
oil and, alien land laws which have
made tense Mexico's. relations with
fhe United States. In order to pre-
vent another Diaz dictatorship it sale
10 president Of Mexico should be re
elected. Last year Congress amend
id the constitution to permit reelec
6lon. "after an intervening term
Thus Obregon is now a candidate tt
succeed Gales and the issue ha'
1Fis1n Of "rceiection" or mo relec
t3on.,D
Last year Gales construed the con
kitdtion to mean that the long dor
uant religious laws should be. re
vfven, and issued q decree promulgat
iug the regulations: !.
Z Catholics sought last year t.
nend the religious articles Of thu
* s. - kkAsskfnn INIT the af1bFt failed.