The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-01-28
BY JACQUES D'ARMAND
United Press stan Correspondent


MEXICO CITY, Jan. 28.-More
than one third Of the Mexican states
and territories, representing between
Is and 20 per cent Of the population
Of the republic, are without legal
church services because Of the re-
cent tightening Of lines IN the
church-state conflict.
A survey by the United Press re-
veals that since the autumn of 1884,
when the proposed reforms Of Mex
icos educational laws to include
teaching Of Socialism in the public
schools brought a renewal Of the
more or less quiescent religious sit
uation, y Mexican states either
have withdrawn licenses from
priests or have expelled them from
their borders.
Southern States Radical
This action has been purely that
If the individual states. Years ago
the federal government passed the
first religious laws and since has
regulated such matters as the wear
ing of distinctive garb by priests, but
the present laws governing opera
ton Of churches have been passed
by the states. The attitude of the
various states varies widely from
san Lis Pot0si, with 70 authorized
priests and churches, down to those
that have closed all churches or ex-
PEELED priests.
The latter states are principally
in tropical southern Mexico and
may or may not reflect the influence
of Tomos Garrido Canabal, present
secretary of agriculture and for
years political chief and governor OF
the tropical state of Tabasco.
Strongest and most radical anti
clerical in Mexico, Garrido's state
is the center of a group of six with
out churches or priests licensed.
These are Tabasco. Chipas, Cam
peche, Oaxaca, Vera Cruz and Yucca
tan, Sonora, Chihuahua and Tam
aulipas are the northern border
states without operating priests,
while Guerrero, Colima and Zacate-
cas-, in the central portion of Mex
icio, complete the list.
Social Program Resented
In virtually every other state ex-
cept San Luis POtosi, state laws
have been amended restricting the
number of churches and priests al
lowed to function. The states of
HidalgO and Nayarit permit five
each, while San Luis Potosi licenses
20. Jalisco so. Nuevo Leon 40 and
Sinaloa 20. The Federal district al
lows 25, with other states varying
between that figure and none.
The present situation is a direct
result of opposition to the govern
ment'S educational provisions en-
bodied in the so-called six-year plan,
a program of social and economic
development originated by the Ma
tional Revolutionary (governing)
party and approved at the Quere-
taro convention that nominated
General Lazaro CardenaS, present
president of the republic. These pro-
visions stipulated socialistic instruc-
ton in all schools with absolute
suppression Of all religious theories.
Some of them may be literally de-
scribed as atheistic.
Up to that time the religious sit
uation had been fairly tranquil. The
religious laws passed under the adj
ADMINISTRATION of Plutarco Elias Gales
as president were still in force, but
there was laxity in enforcement
that was obvious.
Enforcement Was Liberal
Only a small percentage Of
churches actually had been closed,
except in Tabasco, where for years
no priest had been allowed. In Mex
leo City almost every church was
holding services openly, others CO.
verify. while the government, ap-
parently in a conciliatory mood, ig-
nored the violations. The same sit
uation prevailed in most of the
states.
Occasionally a church would be
closed here and there, but in gen.
eral federal and state governments
were fairly liberal in law enforce
ment. In broad metaphorical sense
the situation was similar to that in
numerous sections of the United
States during the waning days of
the Prohibition amendment.
Then a series Of incidents brought
about drastic action against the
church in almost every part Of the
public. Almost overnight states be-
gan to expel priests and close
churches.
The second of this series will be
published tomorrow.