New Britain herald., 1929-06-22
MEXICAN RELIGIOUS
 STRIFE IS SETTLED
Agreement Relchd Bdvm Conierees s-SerYicS to R6lne

Mexico City. June :3 tUP)-TAs long standing religious strife b. tween tho Mexican government and the Catholic church has been sst- tied.
 Religious services with priests in charge will resume in Mexican Catholic churches not later than June es.
 The working agreement reached between the Mexican government and the Catholic church leaves the Mexican religious laws. to which ! the Catholics had objected. in force, but allows interpretation of the most contested points in such a manner aA 10 remove friction between the ties.
 Three Points Included
 The interpretation made by Pres ident Emilio Portes Gill in his state ment announcing the agreement yesterday includes three principal points:
 That the government can rs- quire the registration Of those priests only who have been duly named by the hierarchical superior of the re- ligious creed in question. 2-That ministers of any religion may teach their doctrines to Mexi. can adults and children within the confines Of their churches when at. tendance is specifically for that pur- pose.
 S-That all citizens have the right to petition for the repeal. amend ment or passage of any law. and that therefore the members of any church may apply to the proper au. thorities for such action. Eliminates Old Problem The first interpretation was dc. signed to remove Catholic objections to the reqirement in the religious laws that all priests must register with the government before they can hold services in their churches. The Catholics feared that the gov. ernment would attempt to control the number of priests in the parishes, or perhaps authorize priests not recognized by high church Au- thorities.
 The second interpretation was to eliminate differences resulting from the law prohibiting priests from giving religious instruction in pub lie or private primary or secondary schools.
 The third interpretation was more general in nature and designed to assure the people that they had pro- tection against unwanted laws.
 While not the final settlement hoped. for between the church anL the state, the agreement announced by President Portes Gil and Arch. bishop Leopold Ruis y Flores was regarded by both as definitely end. ing the discord that has existed since 1S., when the religious laws went into effect.
 Called Basas for Settlement
 The president in his abatement, however. described the agreement as "a basis for settlement" Further negotiations will be carried on. it was understood. to smooth out the slightest differences, after which Ea written agreement will be drawn up between the two parties.
 In announcing the agreement, Portes Gil said the Mexican consti. tuition and laws were not aimed at any church and that his administra. tion had attempted to enforce them without partiality. He disclaimsd any intention by the government Of interfering with the spiritual fune. tons of any church.
 Portes Gil began his statement by saying that Archbishop Ruiz ' Flores and Bishop Pasqual Dtas. who assisted in the negotiations. as. sured him the Catholic clergy tn Mexico was patriotic and wished to resume public worship if they could do 90 consistently with their loyalty towards the republic and their con. sciences.
 should Enjoy Freedom
 They stated that could be donN if the church could enjoy freedom within the law 10 live and exercise its spiritual offices" Portes Gil said.
 The archbishop's shorter state. ment. also announcing the agree. ment. referred to the spirit of mu. tual good will'' observed in the n.- sotiations with the president, and hoped that the some spirit would be manifested by the people.
 Only few hours after the two statements were issued, the Mexican interior department announced that all Catholics who were prisoners in Mexico City jails would be released. 1 In addition. the department said 1t had ordered full report be sent in regarding the state of churches in all sections of the country where local supervisors are in charge. It was understood that . demon. stration in honor of Portes Gil would be staged here on July $ be. cause of the successful conclusion of the negotiations.
 Two Weeks Conference
 The agreement was announced after two weeks of conferences te. tween the president and the papai emissaries following the church. mems arrival from the United States. where they had gone when the rs ]. lisious laws were made effective three years ago.
 Five men. in addition to the fhree neEotiatorA were credited with tax. ing leading parts in the events lea l. ing up 10 the agreement. They were former President Plutarea | Elias CalleS who himself, signed the F proclamation making the religious . laws effective: United States Am. bassador Dwight W. Morrow: Dr..