The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-06-26
MEXICO CHURCH
PACT IGNORES
MANY ISSUES
agreement Only Temporary;
Constitution Not to
Be Altered.

WASHINGTON. June 26.-Arch-
bishop Ruiz Y Flores letter TO the
Mexican clergy and laity, published
n the United States today, is
authoritatively interpreted as the
beginning of an effort toward far
reaching adjustment Of the laws
which produced the Mexican relig-
I0us controversy.
The agreement between the church
md the state announced in Mexico
City last week is expected 20 lead to
a. moro definite solution IN which
problems which were not even
mentioned in the recent agreement
would be adjusted. The arch
bishops letter described the situa-
ton as follows.
We hope sincerely that no body
viii accuse the church of improper
lv mixing in politics by virtue of
the necessary relations which the
church must have in order to bring
The matter to definite solution.
This statement is interpreted as
ne church's recognition of the ten
tativc character OF the present pO-
stiOn OF the church in Mexico. The
churCh-statc agreement contrary
to popular belief did not altar the
constitution of Mexico. nor change
any OF the laws.
Agreements Announced
The questions at issue between
The church and state and the dis
position made of them by President
Portes Gil and Archbishop Ruiz 7
Flores in the conference which
ended last week we're as follows:
l. Status Of the apostolic delegate
10 Mexico.
Under the strict Interpretation OF
the religious laws under President
Gales. the Mexican government re
fused TO recognize the existence of
an apostolic delegate
This difficulty is considered to
have been adjusted when President
POrtes Gil agreed to receive and
confer with Archbishop Ruiz Y
Flores.
2. Registration.
The church saw in the law requir-
ing registration Of priests by the
state an opportunity for the state TO
permit registration of priests other
than those properly ordained. Be
cause of this the church said the
law would destroy hierarchial au-
thOrity. President POrteS Gil as
surred the archbishop the purpose
of the law was not to destroy HER
archial authority.
3. Restrictions upon numbers of
priests:
The Mexican constitution author
ICES individual states to enact legis-
lation fixing the number of priests
who may Officiate in each state. The
president promised that the church
would be permitted to appeal to the
highest Mexican courts against
limiting legislation which was be
lieved to have fixed the number Of
priests at too low a figure
Foreign Priests Barred
{. Religious instructions in
schools:
The legislation specifically SAYS
there shall be no religious instruc-
ton in primary schools and PreSi-
dent POrtes Gil was unable to go
further than to promise freedom of
religious instruction in the churches
themselves to as many pupils as de-
sire to attend.
). Foreign priests:
No effort was made to deal with
the constitutional prohibition
against the service of foreign born
priests in Mexico.
s. Ownership of property:
Constitutional prohibition against
The ownership of property by the
church were not mentioned in last
weeks agreement.
7. Religious orders:
The constitution Outlawed organ
izations (monastic and other orders
which were bound by religious
oath.
NIexiCo's acceptance of Jesuit.
Archbishop Pascual Diaz as head of
the Mexican hierarchy suggests the
orders may eventually receive con-
Sideration.
s. Catholic newspapers:
All Catholic papers have been
suppressed. The agreement may
eventually lead to resumption of
some or all of these papers.
Q. Check on the state:
The Mexican government has an
nOunced it will no longer recognize
state laws which conflict with the
federal interpretations of the con-
Stitution.
10. Religious marriage ceremonies
Mexico now requires a civil
ceremony, but probably eventually
viii adopt the American system.