‘Freedom is Our Lives’ . Flores — who is sometimes referred to as the “Mexican Gandhi”— favored civil involves the execution of St. José María The new movie, For Greater Glory: The Robles Hurtado, a martyred priest and True Story of Cristiada unveils a time when disobedience. Others, like Father José Reyes Vega and Victoriano Ramírez, known as “El Knight of Columbus who blessed and Mexican Christians, in the pursuit of forgave his killers in the face of death. religious freedom, had to choose between Catorce,”resorted to armed resistance, beginning a grassroots rebellion of Mexican Although the film is about specific their faith and their lives. It was directed by historical events, the filmmakers believe the Titanic and Lord of the Rings special Catholics from which the term “Cristiada” originated. that its message about religious freedom effects genius, Dean Wright. Therefore it is universal. contains gripping and spectacular action The history of the Cristero War remains with breathtaking scenery. But it is the largely unknown, even to Mexicans. Eduardo “Welive in a time where religious story of heroic martyrdom that will draw Verástegui, who portrays González Flores in freedom is as tenuous as it’sever been,” crowds to theaters. The talented cast said Wright. includes Andy Garcia, Peter O’Toole and The Untold Story of the Knights during Eva Longoria. the Cristiada The Cristero War is a conflict that lasted from 1926 to 1929. This often forgotten era On an ordinary January day in 1927, as of Mexican history is captured in [this] film Yocundo Durán walked home in comprised of an ensemble of talented and Chihuahua, Mexico, he crossed paths award-winning actors. with Federal Gen. Miguel Valle, who was walking out of a local tavern. The general The persecution of the Catholic Church in recognized Durán and had one of his Mexico began when the administration of soldiers detain him and ask, “Areyou a Mexican President Plutarco Calles took When the government outlawed faith, Knight of Columbus?” punitive measures to silence priests and the faithful became outlaws. bishops, confiscate Church property and Durán confirmed that he was a Knight close Catholic schools. When the archbishop and asked whether there was any evil in of Mexico City spoke out against such it. Considering this an indictment, Valle measures, his residence and the chapel of the film, experienced this silence first hand. pronounced Durán a “subversive Our Lady of Guadalupe were bombed. “WhenI grew up in Mexico I didn’tknow Catholic”and ordered him shot on the anything about the Cristiada. I went to spot. Durán’sbody was later delivered to RECLAIMING HISTORY public school; I had never heard anything his family in a bricklayer’scart. about it — until I turned 30 years old ...” For the filmmakers, bringing the dark era of the Cristiada years to life was largely Wright and Barroso also sought to create an During this time, the government seized motivated by the silence that surrounds it. accurate depiction of the violence carried out Catholic schools and seminaries, As the story unfolds, the audience witnesses against Mexican Catholics. Although never expropriated Church property, and the various ways in which committed gratuitously, the film depicts priests being outlawed religious education. It closed Catholics responded to their plight. Some, executed, churches pillaged and worshippers Catholic hospitals, orphanages and such as Blessed José Anacleto González massacred. One of the more chilling scenes homes for the elderly. It also banned orders, expelled foreign-born clergy and The articles in this issue set the record prohibited public worship. Priests and straight, both as to the real cause of the nuns were barred from wearing religious violence and the peaceful efforts of the garments, from voting, and from criticizing Knights of Columbus on both sides of the the government or commenting on public border to defend religious liberty in Mexico. affairs either in writing or in speech. If Today in the United States, it is impossible charged with a violation of the law, they to recall these events without thinking of were, like Durán, often denied a trial. current threats to religious liberty, Mexico’s bishops were expelled, and many including the Obama administration’s of the clergy were exiled for years; those insistence that contraceptives, sterilization who remained or returned in secret were and abortion-inducing drugs be included in forced to work and minister the health insurance programs of Catholic “underground.” Many seminarians were organizations. This federal mandate is also exiled to Spain or the United States. backed by the threat of millions of dollars in fines if Catholic organizations refuse to Although the Knights as an organization comply as a matter of conscience. did not provide support to the Cristeros’ military efforts, it remained a target for The president of the U.S. Conference of the Mexican government, explains Catholic Bishops, Cardinal Timothy M. historian Jean Meyer. Dolan, earlier this year stated, “We have become certain of two things: religious According to Meyer, more than 200,000 freedom is under attack, and we will not people from every socioeconomic cease our struggle to protect it.” background were killed or martyred by 1930. On May 21, 2000, Pope John Paul II Cardinal Francis E. George, the past canonized 25 martyrs — including six president of the bishops’ conference, has Knights — from the Cristiada period. concluded from the intransigence of the Thirteen more Mexican martyrs — Obama administration that it wants including three Knights — were beatified Catholics to “give up” our schools, hospitals in Guadalajara, Mexico, on the Solemnity and charitable ministries. of Christ the King on Nov. 20, 2005. This article is comprised of excerpts from Columbia magazine May 2012. Copied with permission from “For Greater Glory is a The May 2012 issue of Columbia magazine Knights of Columbus, New Haven Connecticut. explores the history of the persecution of powerful film ... See much more at the Catholic Church in Mexico during the and is ‘must-see’ viewing for all 1920s and ’30s. This history has been who care about faith and liberty hidden from the people of Mexico, and the FREE - print this flyer at : today.” real causes of the conflict have been ignored by many scholars. www.DefendingTheBride.com/ss/Glory