The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-06-22
Religious Services viii Be
Resumed by Catholics
by Next Sunday.
PRISONERS ARE FREED
Restrictive Laws Still in
Force, but Liberal Inter
probation Is Agreed.
By GESFORD F. FINE.
United Press stan Correspondent

MEXICO CITY, June 22.-The
long standing religious strife be
tween the Mexican government and
the Catholic church has been
settled.
Religious services with priests in
charge VIII resume in Mexican
Catholic churches not later than
June %
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 o manner
as to remove friction between the
government and the church
The Interpretation made by Presi-
dent Emilio PorteS Gil il his state
ment announcing the agreement
Friday includes three principal
points.
/. That the government can re-
Quire the registration Of those
priests only who have been named
by the hierarchical superior Of the
religious creed in question.
All May Teach Religion
,. That ministers of any religion
may teach their doctrines to Mex
lean adults and children within the
confines of their churches when at
tendance is specifically for that
purpose.
, rT7l-o4 oil csfi,o,,e l,o,-o fI,e ,.ioI,t
TO petition the repeal, amendment
OF passage of any law, and that
therefore the members of any
church may apply to the proper au-
thOrities for such action.
While not the final settlement
hoped for between the church and
the state. the agreement announced
by President Portes Gil and Arch
bishop Leopoldo Ruiz Y Flores was
regarded as definitely ending the
discord that has existed since 1926,
when the religious laws went into
effect.
The president in his statement,
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 a
written agreement will be drawn
up Gil said.
The archbishop's shorter state
ment referred TO the spirit of mu-
tual goodwill observed in the nego-
tiations with the president, and
hoped that the same spirit would be
manifested by the people.
Catholics Released
Only a few hours after the two
statements were issued. the MeXi-
can interior department announced
that all Catholics who were pris-
Oners in Mexico City jails would be
released.
The agreement was announced
after two weeks Of conferences be-
tween the President.
The terms were agreed upon last
Saturday and forwarded to Vatican
City for the approval of Pope Plus
XI The announcement was with
held until word was received from
him, and some alarm at the delay
was expressed in unofficial quartVrS
at times.
Five men, in addition to the
three negotiations. were credited
with taking leading parts in the
events leading up TO the agreement.
They we're former President Plu-
tarco Elias Gales, who himself
signed the proclamation making
the religious laws effective: Dwight
W. Morrow, United States ambassa-
dor; DR.. Edmund A. Walsh. vice
president Of Georgetown university,
Washington: Father John Burke of
the National Catholic Welfare
Council. Washington. and Miguel
Cruchaga. former Chilean ambas-
sador TO Washington.
Ends Shear Strife
The religious war began three
years ago when President Gales at
tempted to enforce the religious
provisions of the 1917 constitution.
which the Catholic church claimed
contained intolerant and restrictive
measures.
Priests. protesting against the
registration requirement, went into
hiding or left the country. and
church services were held without
the direction of the clergy. Those
who remained put aside their cleri-
cal robes.