Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-03
Archbishop Ruiz Expresses
Hope for Early End of
Religious Strife.
PRELATE is GUEST HERE
OF CATHOLIC OFFICIAL
Thinks Portes Gil's Exoneration Of
Church in Revolt Opens Way
for Negotiations.

Archbishop Leopoldo Ruiz, 64-year-
old exile from his native land, Mexico,
and head of the Mexican hierarchy,
talked optimistically today of his chances
of return and of the prospects of
| settlement by arbitration OF Mexicos
long-standing church controversy.
| The little, quick witted prelate, twice
an exile from his country ana survivor
OF the siege of Morelia by de la Huerta
forces in 1928, smiled broadly as he told
a reporter of his hope for an early end
Of religious strife below the border.
Struggling maSterfully with his cred
liable English vocabulary, the arch
bishop spoke eagerly of the recent an
nouncement by President Portes Gil
generating the Catholic Church from
| responsibility for the revolution just
ending. He thinks the statement opens
the way for negotiations between the
church and the state with view to
establishing sincere religious freedom"
Views Good Will as Cure.
The archbishop was interviewed at
the home of Rev. John Burke, general
secretary of the National Catholic
Welfare Conference, at 2405 Twentieth
street, where he is spending few days
as a guest. From there he issued
statement last night stating that 1.-The
religious conflict in Mexico arises from
no cause which cannot be corrected
by men of sincere good will' and that
"the church and her ministers are pre-
pared to cooperate with President
Portes Gil in every just and moral eff
fort made for the improvement OF the
people"
Discussing the situation in his coun-
try with candor, the venerable Mexican
expressed the opinion that the initial
step toward settlement should be 4
conference between authorized repre-
sentatives of the church and OF the
government. He declared the Vatican
stands ready to appoint delegates from
the church to such parley.
Archbishop Ruiz manifested no bitter
ness toward those who exiled him. On
the other hand. he commended highly
the Mexican president for his statement
clearing the church from completely In
| the revolution. and said he was sure
that ''only good will'' existed between
the governmental heads and the church
officials.
Tells of Departure.
The archbishop even chuckled good
humoredly as he told how he and five
other bishops were escorted to the bor-
der two years ago from Mexico City.
six bishops and five soldiers" he
Tex, where we were received graciously
by the American consul. I have been
in the United States ever since, except
for trip to Rome last year, when I
reported to the Holy Father on the
Mexican situation"
The experience was not a novel one,
he pointed out, as he had been exiled
in 1914 for five years during the Car
rama uprising Fifteen other bishops
were exiled with him at that time.
1t was in 1928 when de la Huerta rose
against Obregon, that Archbishop Ruiz
heard the voice of machine guns and
the whine of bullets over his house. He
was under siege in his home in Morelia
for three days. during which 5000 SOL
diers under Gen. Estrada fought des-
perately in the streets for possession Of
the city.
Asked for Blessing.
ct found out who won on the third
day from wounded man who stumbled
into my residence" the archbishop said.
He was bleeding at the wrist and had
a handkerchief wrapped about his hand.
I asked him whether he was a Federal
or a rebel and what he wanted. He
said he was rebel and that victory had
come to his army.
He asked me for blessing. but re-
fused to accept first aid for his wrist.
Then he said his captain was lying in
the throes of death across the street,
and would sent priest to administer
the last rites to him. I complied.
HE seemed very happy, and asked
him why this was So
"'Ah!' he explained, I am quite happy
because my superior officer has told US
We may loot the town for two hours!'
That is the philosophy of some Of
our soldiers"