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Show THE INTERMOUNTAIN CATHOLIC The Challenge The Mexican government has challenged the Catholics of that country to a test of strength by passing and attempting to enforce the most tyrannical religious laws that have been put on the statute books of any country in modern times. It has placed the Catholics of Mexico in a difficult position. To resist the laws by force would be considered justification by the government of its theory that the Church teaches obedience to the Pope rather than to the government. To accept the laws and abide by them is impossible if the Catholic Church in Mexico is to maintain the status of a church. In answer to this despotic challenge, the Church discontinued on August first all church services, and turned the churches over to the care of the laity. The Catholics organized the National League of Defense of Religious Freedom, and their first step was to declare a boycott i against buying anything but the strictest necessities. They believe that economic pressure will soon force the Calles government to agree to listen to the voice of reason and liberty. The banks and business houses are already feeling the effects of the boycott. They are trying to get Calles to suspend the religious laws for one year during which time a referendum could be taken on the laws in dispute. A few riots have taken place, but in the main the Catholic attitude has been one of. passive resistance. Only when violence has been done ,to them, have they replied in kind. Calles is doomed to ultimate defeat. His laws are contrary to the spirit of the age. They are out of harmony with the principles of government that underlie democracy. Separation of church and state is one thing, persecution for opinions sake is quite another. America has shown for over a century and a half that separation of church and state can be accomplished without brutality, despotism, amii jJteari JWitemu - A Boarding and Day School for Girls to Sister Send Ogden for Catalog 55 Superior , |