While the rest of the Roman Catholic Church is happily
celebrating the seventh centenary of St. Francis of Assisi, Mexico is plunged into the agony of a violent religious struggle. It is with great regret and considerable curiosity that we watch its developments. The Government with a mixture probably of ignorant intolerance towards religion and of a material greed for great possessions of all kinds of wealth, has taken advantage of clerical opposition to its anti-clerical laws to try in effect to seize all the property of the Church. After consultation with the hierarchy there the Pope has pronounced an Interdict upon the country. This terrible weapon has not been brought into use on this scale since the Middle Ages. It may be said that the Roman Catholic Church in Central America is still mediaeval in spirit and that while the mass of the people remain ignorant and superstitious, a mediaeval weapon is suitable; but the backwardness of the Church cannot be urged as anything in favour of the Government.
* * * *
Previous page
