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The Cristero War Victorious Reformers Then Drafted a 1917 Constitution Mandating Democracy—And Imposing Tough Limits on the Clergy

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The Cristero War Victorious Reformers Then Drafted a 1917 Constitution Mandating Democracy—And Imposing Tough Limits on the Clergy FI Apr-May 07 Pages 2/27/07 1:15 PM Page 46 FORGOTTEN HISTORY After 1900, young radicals began call- ing for the overthrow of Diaz, as well as Another Holy Horror: the distribution of land to peasants and abolition of priestly power. Their unrest finally exploded in the Mexican Revolu- tion, which raged from 1910 to 1916. The The Cristero War victorious reformers then drafted a 1917 constitution mandating democracy—and imposing tough limits on the clergy. It James A. Haught halted church control of schools, banned monastic orders, and eliminated reli- gious processions and outdoor masses. It n the vast annals of faith-based fter Mexico won independence from again put limits on church ownership of killing, some episodes are widely ASpain in 1821, democracy advocates property, and it forbade priests to wear Iknown, while other religious blood- sought to loosen the Roman Catholic clerical garb, vote, or comment on public baths are oddly forgotten. Church’s grip on Mexican society. Some affairs in the press. The whole world is aware of the stun- anticlerical laws were passed, but they At first, this strong crackdown was ning “martyr” attack of September 11, were revoked by the dictator Santa only lightly enforced, and church protests 2001. And most people recall the Jones- Anna in 1834. were subdued. But, in 1926, President town tragedy and the Waco siege—as In the 1850s, liberal Benito Juarez, a Plutarco Calles intensified the pressure. well as historic horrors such as the Zapotec Indian, came to power and He decreed a huge fine (equal to US$250 Inquisition, the Salem witch trials, the enacted La Reforma, a sweeping plan at the time) on any priest who wore a Crusades, the Reformation wars, the for secular democracy. Among various clerical collar and demanded five years in pogroms against Jews, the era of human other reforms, the plan ended Cathol- prison for any priest who criticized the sacrifice, and numerous others. icism’s exclusive role as the state reli- government. In response, Catholic bish- However, some faith-driven tragedies gion, reduced the church’s great land ops called for a boycott against the gov- have mostly vanished from public aware- wealth, halted ecclesiastical courts, ernment. Catholic teachers refused to ness. For example, few Americans know abolished church burial fees, and re- show up at secular schools, Catholics that Catholic-Protestant strife caused a voked priestly control of education, refused to ride public transportation, and cannon battle in the streets of Phila- marriage, and other facets of daily life. other acts of civil disobedience occurred. delphia in 1844 or that the Taiping The changes were written into a new The pope in Rome approved the resis- Rebellion—led by a mystic who said he constitution—but the church excommu- tance. The government reacted by closing was God’s second son after Jesus with a nicated all Mexican officials who swore to churches. Ferment grew. divine mandate to “destroy demons”— uphold it. Civil war erupted, and religious On July 31, 1926, the bishops halted killed millions of Chinese in the 1850s. conservatives seized Mexico City, driving all worship services in Mexico. An ardent Here’s another half-forgotten holy the liberal government to Veracruz. The Catholic Web site, The Angelus, says the horror: the Cristero War, which killed United States supported Juarez, and his step was unprecedented in Catholic his- ninety thousand Mexicans in the 1920s. It regime defeated the rebels in 1861. tory and presumably was “intended to was a long, convoluted, gruesome con- Exiled Mexican conservatives ap- push the Mexicans to revolt.” Intended or flict that spanned a century. It was a clas- pealed to Catholic France and Spain not, it worked. sic example of the age-old struggle and the pope, among other Europeans. On August 23, 1926, about four hun- between reformers and a priestly class French, Spanish, and some English dred armed Catholics barricaded them- that gains power in a society, entrenches forces invaded Mexico, driving Juarez to selves in a Guadalajara church and itself with rulers, and lives off the popu- the north. A Hapsburg noble, Maxi- fought a gun battle with federal troops, lace, while imposing strictures on them. milian, was installed as emperor—but costing eighteen lives. The following The Cristero War showed the power he was slow to revoke the anticlerical day, soldiers stormed a Sahuayo church, of religion to propel believers into blood- laws. The clergy and the pope’s emis- killing its priest and vicar. shed. And it showed that attempts to sary felt betrayed, and Europeans with- Catholic rebellions erupted in numer- suppress religion by law can trigger vio- drew their military backing. Juarez ous places. Rene Garza, leader of the lent blowback. regrouped, defeated Maximilian’s mili- Mexican Association of Catholic Youth, tia, and executed the emperor in 1867. called for general insurrection, declar- James Haught, the editor of West After Juarez died, successors added ing that “the hour of victory belongs to Virginia’s largest newspaper, The further separations between church and God.” Volunteer bands attacked federal Charleston Gazette, is the author of state. Religious oaths were banned in facilities and army posts, shouting Holy Horrors: An Illustrated History of courts. Church ownership of land was “Long live Christ the king! Long live the Religious Murder and Madness and a forbidden. But dictator Porfirio Diaz Virgin of Guadalupe!” The rebels called senior editor of FREE INQUIRY. His new seized power in an 1876 revolt, and themselves Cristeros—fighters for Christ. book is Honest Doubt (Prometheus, gradually restored Catholic privileges Mexican bishops refused to oppose the 2007). during his long reign. rebellion and even quietly approved it. free inquiry http://www.secularhumanism.org 46 FI Apr-May 07 Pages 2/27/07 1:16 PM Page 47 Two priests became guerrilla comman- feating federal units and came to control lowers that standard for “martyrs,” so ders. One, Aristeo Pedroza, was prim large sections of Mexico. Some Catholic the number of proclaimed miracles in and moral. The other, Jose Vega, was a army officers mutinied on behalf of the the Cristero War may be less than forty- drinker and womanizer. Three other religious insurgents. The U.S. ambassador six.) On November 20, 2005, thirteen priests became gunfighters; many others to Mexico launched negotiations to end the others were designated martyrs and became covert activists. conflict. His effort was damaged, however, beatified, advancing toward sainthood. Father Vega led a raid on a train, and because President Calles was scheduled to On the government side, no glories were his brother was killed in the attack. In be succeeded by moderate president-elect proclaimed for those who struggled and revenge, the priest had the train cars Alvaro Obregon—but Obregon was assas- won at least a partial victory against doused with gasoline and torched, sinated by a Catholic fanatic. Eventually, domination by the clergy. killing fifty-one civilian passengers talks brought a cease fire. The Catholic For freethinkers, the message of the inside. The massacre soured public sup- Church was allowed to keep its buildings, Cristero War is clear: religion is danger- port for the uprising. The government and priests were allowed to live in them. ous and laced with the potential for vio- expelled Catholic bishops from the lence (as evidenced by the deadly 2006 country. After another engagement, he Cristero War took about ninety Muslim eruptions over Danish cartoons Vega ordered all federal troops who Tthousand lives: 56,882 on the gov- of the Prophet). Overpowering govern- were taken prisoner stabbed to death, to ernment side, and some thirty thousand mental attempts to subdue it can impel save ammunition. The priest was later Cristeros, plus civilians. On May 21, believers into irrational slaughter. A killed in a raid. 2000, the Vatican conferred sainthood wiser course is to maintain separation An estimated fifty thousand Catholic on twenty-three Cristero figures: twenty of church and state, patiently waiting men became guerrillas, and thousands of priests and three laymen. (Normally, for advances in education and science to Catholic women joined “St. Joan of Arc” each canonization requires evidence of erode public support for supernatural- support brigades. The rebels began de- at least two miracles, but the church ism. Join Us April 25—28, 2007 for a Well-Rounded Weekend of Learning! Secular Humanist Celebration Course There’s never been a Center for Taught by R. Joseph Hoffmann, Chair, Committee for the Scientific Inquiry Institute weekend session Examination of Religion (CSER) like this one. Join us for a Humanist Ethics stimulating trio of courses Taught by John Shook, Vice President for Research and Senior Research covering humanist ceremonies, Fellow, the Center for Inquiry/Transnational humanist ethics, and the application of the cognitive A Meeting of Minds: Applying Rational psychological principles of Emotive Behavioral Therapy and Methods of Scientific Inquiry for Rational Emotive Behavioral Personal Development Therapy (REBT) to your Taught by Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy practitioners Bill Knaus, Ed Garcia, and Vince Paar, assisted by philosophical counselor humanist activities … Elliot Cohen and prominent author Joel Block and your daily life! As a special addition, there will be a CALL FOR Saturday evening banquet with a per- MORE INFORMATION formance by world-renowned magician and mentalist Max Maven. 716-636-4869 x407 47 http://www.secularhumanism.org April/May 2007.
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