The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-05-23
MEXICAN PRIESTS ADMIT TRAIN
MASSACRE
BY Nj. G.. PRIETO
Acting Mexican Consul General

Using the service of the great press bureaus of
the United States to accuse the government of Mex
leo of the cruelest religious persecution of modern
times" the leading members of the Roman Catholic
Church Hierarchy of Mexico, banished from that
country for defying the laws have issued a state
ment in which they thus accuse the Mexican govern
ment without bringing forward single fact to but
tress up their accusations. AS their statement has
appeared generally in the most prominent places in
the newspapers of the United States as acting
sul-general to this country ask theuse of the
columns to make answer.
There has been persecution in Mexico for
religious beliefs at any time in any place under
the present government This is a matter of record
There has been in the past the most cruel persecu-
ton for religious beliefs, including burning at the
stake, but these prosecutions took place when the
Roman Catholic Hierarchy was in full power in
Mexico. There have never been any such persecu-
lions since they were deprived of their absolute
power and privileges. The people of the United
States should know that as matter Of history the
cry of the church, when it fought to retain its
special privileges, was "Down With Toerance!"
1t is very significant that the Mexican prelates
have shifted their ground from denying that priests
among the leaders in the sporadic revolts
which have occurred in Mexico recently, and now
admit in this very statement the presence of priests
among the rebel bands, but say that "some priests
offered to be chaplains for the forces of the
tional revolt"
have lived much longer among the people Of
know that the average reader will not be taken in
by this Jesuitca excuse. But few weeks ago
these same preates were denying the presence of
priests entirely, and that incontroverble proof
of their presence has been offered they hasten to
put up such foolish defense as this one
1t is only fair that the people of the United
States should know why this change in position
has been made by the Hierarchy. On the train from
Guadalajara, where the recent horrible massacre
took place, Mr.. Mestre, a prominent lawyer
and well-known catholic, who responsible for
bringing about last year the meeting of the Catholic
Hierarchy and President Gales in an attempt to
settle the difficulties between the prelates, who
fused to register the law requires, and the gov
eminent. In the statement which he has made to the
Mexico City papers Mr.. Mestre describes the cries
of the wounded men, and children, pune
tuated by the shouts of the attackers: "Viva the
Virgin of Guadaupe!" and "Viva Christ the King!"
This devout catholic lawyer spoke of the horrible
blasphemy Of such cries in the midst of such hor-
rible bloodshed. Mr.. Mestre further stated that
those acting chiefs Of the assaiants boosted that
they had among them priests.
1t was this statement of Mr.. Mestre that doubt
less caused the Hierarchy to engage in no more
denials of the activity Of portion of the clergy.
The Hierarchy in their statement have proved
every charge that the Mexican government has
brought against them If these higher prelates had
sufficient power to keep the clergy from minister
ing to the spiritual wants of the Mexican people
by ordering them not to register as priests, then
| submit to all reasonable men and women they
certainly had the power to keep them from indug-
ing in such fiendish activities as taking part in
the massacre on the railroad between Guadaajara
and Mexico City.