Registered at G.P.O.,
NO. 2,572.
Perth,
for transmission by post as a newspaper
PERTH, SATURDAY, MARCH 13, 1937.
SIXTY-THIRD YEAR.
Persecution of the Church in Mexico Clergy and Religious Deprived of Civic Rights Appeal For Justice by Eminent Attorney
CEO
PRICt
As to education, Cabrera conWriting from Mexico City, die State, but I am opposed to the State tu it a duly .iiders itself interpose having the State corresMexican Retico, Charles afford educational opportunities, pondent for the NCWC News in religious questions. I beService, forwards a striking ar- lieve that the Church ought' not especially when one considers the ticle by Luis Cabrera, eminent to hold landed propert) in ac- cnildren oi the poorer classes, Mexican Attorney, defending the cordance with the Gospel precept but he holds that "the orientation civic rights of clergy and religi- that the apostle should not carry of the public conscience by means a second coat, or money in his of the official schools seems to me ous. to be dangerous because it constiLuis Cabrera, the eminent at- belt. tutes a meddling with educative turney who served as Minister of of Finwas Minister " When I matters as culpable as that of the Finance under Carranza, has ance, in compliance with Article written a second article which is 27 of the Constitution, I ordered clergy in the past." He believes education attracting even greater attention and carried out the nationalisa- that "freedom of absolute ,and I do not should be than his recent one on "The Re- tion of divers properties of the volution Then and Now." This clergy which immediately became approve the recent amendment of second article, in which he de- the patrimony of the nation. But Article 3 of the Constitution. fends certain rights of the I have always opposed, no mat- Education in the hands of the Church and clergy, is in answer ter what the pretext, taking pro- State alwayi will hate as its printo Vicente Lombardo Toledano's perty from the clergy to put it cipal object political control over public interpellation on "the con- into the hands of individuals and individuals." Cabrera declares that recent version of Mexican Revolution- to make use of the spirit of rapine strikes, in his opinion, and in aries." and revenge which gave way to Cabrera's latest statement is the recent Law for the Nation- fact all others of any importance headed: "Mv Political and Social alisation of Property. And this in Mexico, were not the result of With respect to poli- is not in defence of the Catholic economic conditions, but of poliCreed." tical activities on the part of the Church as a property-owner, nor tical maneouvres, and were posclergy, he reminds his readers of in the defence of jeopardised pri- sible only because of the official Somewhat the pamphlet written by him in vate interests, but rather because fomenting of them. 1916 and entitled "The -Religious of the corruption itself and the satirically he calls attention to Question," in which he advocat- covetousness that is fomented in the fact that strikes are possible ed the strict application of the the breast of the public admin- under a Capitalistic regimen, but Laws of Reform. istration by this sort of nation- if or when industry is nationalised, the workers will have to alisation. Citizenship for Priests. submit to the Government as emam a Catholic because I was Seminaries. The without chirping. ployer born in that religion and was " I respect the nationality of out Error. Fundamental educated in it, although with the priests I think that it should and limitation of the scorns the He the indifferentism of natural epoch of positivism of the pre- be assured at all hazard, that they rights of individuals and of instiparatory school. I do not be- be Mexicans, but in this respect tutions as a fundamental error, lieve in the pseudo-parsons who I am the enemy of making voids as much so as hampering the "I say 'Thank God I am an atheist,' in the Catholic ranks to give en- press or liberty of thought. aml baptise their children with trance to Protestant propaganda. believe that spiritual liberty is such names as Luzbel or Barra- I believe above all that if we above all economic and political has. . Nor do I have any more want to have Mexican priests, • liberties." Cabrera proclaims. faith in the new idolatries which the functioning of Mexican sem- "It has always seemed to me to they are trying to substitute for inaries should be authorised so be not only an infringement but the idolatries of our Aztec, or as to avoid having the future even more seriously, an error on Spanish forefathers. I am the priests educated in Italy or in the part of the Government. no enemy of the limitation of the the United States, or in Spain, as matter what the means, to atrights of citizenship for priests. was done formerly, after which tempt to prevent a mar's think• I am the enemy of nonsensical they return to Mexico more ing or saying what he thinks. It radicalism such as that which re- foreignised than if they had been seems to me that the first right of man is to live, to work and to quires that pastors be married. born outside our territory." respect to religious beWith think in his own country. The considered or that they must be subject to a foreign power and. liefs, Cabrera declares that he exiling of a man for what he consequently. expelled from the considers religion a moral factor thinks, to me is the most incountry as though they were per- in the life of individuals, and a human of tyrannical acts." social factor in their history, Cabrera admits that the hos. nicious foreigners. "I still believe that the mono- " which should not be passed over pitality offered Trotsky is "a polising- of terriorial wealth by in weighing political, social and very noble and generous parade "I of our respect for liberty of the clergy and its divers bran- even economic problems." had," he always states, have "the thought, but as a Mexican it national the to contrary ches is interests, that the meddling of greatest tolerance for the religi- shames me that Trotsky should the clergy in politics is unlawful, ous beliefs of others. and as time find asylum in Mexico while toand that, in general. the Laws of goes on, the more useless repri- day there are Mexicans living Reform of 1874 guaranteed the sals or persecutions of a religi- abroad,exiled from their owr country, because of their ideas." eparation of the Church from ous character seem to me."