A Guide to Mexican Anti-Catholicism in the 1800s

 “In the world you shall have distress: but have confidence, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

A History of Bloodshed and Revolution

Often untaught to children today, Catholics were extremely persecuted in Mexico during the early 1900s because of the rise of the atheistic government in Mexico, which was seeking to secularize the country and limit the power of the Catholic Church.

History books cite September 16, 1810 as the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence from Spain.[1] Credited for initiating this revolution is Don Miguel Hidalgo, a Catholic priest. Sadly, he did not live his priesthood well.[2] As a seminary rector he was accused of mishandling funds. He challenged Catholic doctrine on priestly celibacy, Our Lady’s perpetual virginity, and papal authority. He was a self-styled liberalist, egalitarian, and independent thinker. Yet in reality, he was a blind follower, submitting himself to the Freemasonic ideals of the so-called “enlightenment” which fueled the French Revolution. Hidalgo also had various liaisons with women and fathered children out of wedlock by at least four different women. The rotten ‘fruit’ which came from this ‘tree’ can be seen in the great suffering endured by the Catholic Faith in Mexico in the revolution’s aftermath.

Don Miguel Hidalgo

Don Miguel Hidalgo led an ill-prepared “army” (‘mob’ would be a better descriptor) of 90,000 farmers and peasants into battle. They gained several victories on account of sheer numbers. However, he failed to capture Mexico City (October 1810) and his army was decisively defeated at Calderon Bridge (January 1811). They were defeated and he fled north. He rejected a pardon and was soon captured. The local bishop rightly defrocked and excommunicated him. Don Miguel Hidalgo was found guilty of treason by a military court and executed. Nevertheless, the fires of revolution and blood had been sufficiently stoked.

Unstable Governments and the Spread of Liberalism

A decade of warfare, bloodshed, and suffering followed. It wasn’t until September 27, 1821, when the Treaty of Cordoba was signed, that Mexico was officially recognized as an independent country by Spain. The first ruler of independent Mexico was Agustín de Iturbide, a military general who had helped lead the independence movement. He declared himself emperor in 1822, but his reign was short-lived, and he was forced to abdicate in 1823. After Iturbide’s abdication, Mexico became a republic, and a new constitution was adopted in 1824. The country was governed by a series of presidents and other political leaders, including Vicente Guerrero, Guadalupe Victoria, Santa Anna, and Benito Juarez.

Benito Juarez (whose first term as president was 1858 – 1861) supported laws that secularized education, abolished Church control over civil marriage, and confiscated Church property. Despite his efforts to limit the power of the Catholic Church in Mexico, Juarez himself claimed to be a “devout Catholic” throughout his life. He falsely believed that religion was a personal matter and that the State should remain neutral in matters of faith.

The Rise of Mexican Anti-Catholicism

Economic conditions worsened under Santa Anna, much territory was lost to the United States, and Benito Juarez would soon suspend the payment of Mexico’s national debts. In 1857, Mexico’s new constitution declared that the government had the power to regulate the Church. This was all too much for many of Mexico’s sons loyal to Church and country. A counter-revolution was launched to restore a Catholic monarchy to Mexico. The 1857 Mexican Constitution was suspended temporarily during the pro-Catholic restoration movement and French intervention in Mexico, which began in 1861, and led to the overthrow of Juarez.

Benito Juárez

A legitimate ruler of royal blood was needed, and this plea was answered by the Archduke Maximilian of the Holy Roman Empire (he was the brother of Emperor Franz Josef and direct descendent of Charles V in the Hapsburg line). However, he insisted that he would only accept the throne if he was approved by a national plebiscite. Following the country’s vote in his favor, he accepted the crown on April 10, 1864. With the support of French armies, he and his wife, Charlotte of Belgium, arrived in Mexico City shortly thereafter. A conservative government was established under his leadership. Emperor Maximilian’s government adopted a new constitution, known as the Constitution of the Empire, which replaced the 1857 Constitution for an all-too brief period.

Benito Juarez, however, sought to foment revolution and regain his power. The United States supplied him with the necessary support; resources were now available since the Civil War had been concluded. Thus, the Mexican Republic was restored in 1867 after the defeat of the French and the execution of Maximilian. The 1857 Constitution was then reinstated and remained in force until the Mexican Revolution in 1910. Juarez also returned as President, continuing his liberal policies, and served as such until his death in 1872.

The Mexican Revolution

At the start of the 20th century, Mexico entered the most destructive and turbulent phase of its history. A terrible revolution raged from approximately 1910 to 1920.[3] Various revolutionary juntas and generals came to power and were overthrown. A new constitution was adopted in 1917, which replaced the 1857 Constitution as the fundamental law of Mexico. It was far more anti-Catholic than any decrees formerly promulgated in Mexico. When the dust of war settled, the forces of Marxism were deeply entrenched within the authority structures. Life for Mexican Catholics was about to get far worse.

To be continued in ‘A Guide to Mexican Anti-Catholicism in the 1900s”


ENDNOTES:

[1] September 16 is a national holiday in Mexico and celebrated as their day of independence. On this day, Don Miguel Hidalgo gave a sermon at his Mass known as El Grito de Dolores – “The Cry (yell) of Sorrow (pain),” in which he called on people to join him in a revolution. Mexican schoolbooks have nicknamed him as “The Father of Our Country.”

[2] Here we are reminded of a famous statement by St. Bernadette, the visionary of Lourdes. When Prussians invaded France (1870), she was asked if she feared them. She did not. A follow-up question was posed, asking if she feared anything. ‘Only bad Catholics’ was her insightful reply.

[3] This Revolution affected nearly everyone in Mexico. As an anecdotal example, we can consider the family of David Rodriguez, The Fatima Center’s Content Director. Several of his maternal grandmother’s uncles were murdered. Her family chose to flee northward to escape the violence. Their train was nearly derailed as tracks were destroyed and bridges burned along their path. They lost everything but their lives as they safely emigrated into Texas. David’s paternal great grandfather was the foreman of a ranch in Chihuaha (one of the northern states). Pancho Villa, a violent revolutionary leader, invaded the property and demanded all provisions. As the foreman refused to cooperate, Pancho Villa had him murdered in cold-blood. His young son, David’s paternal grandfather, was able to escape from the ranch and survive.

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