Show I t I MEXICO OWNS ALL CHURCHES IN DOMAIN I I CONTROLS BUILDINGS AND PROTECTS CREEDS CREEDS I Many rany of or our cur English speaking reader read read- er 14 have expressed to us Ul a n d desire lesire to poK es some somo Information in regard 10 to the Ih nature of or th the separation of or church antI ami state In Mexico o. o says mays ay Ih the Mp Mexico Herald Ih the recognized organ of or the ther r rr t printed at Mexico L City v h hi fh h then lien this explanation Thit Th great principle thou though h It had hadS S r. r r. r 1 i i I. I facto talt achieved was not nol pro pro- S lr irid ri J ii f specifically p and categorically iii pi Pl 26 26 1873 when th the main v of nr the r reform r rm laws were wr emS em'S eni- eni S 'S H II 1 d in III the lilt nations nation's Magna Cho Charta Chau i Illo in ii f of or oon amend amond- i I ih Ii i i rt Im r i rf rr t wa was II v MI i. i md ca ortT r 1 ar ar- Independent r 1 i h 11 i ter t lr rs cannot ena mart enact t I iv i 10 V r r prohibiting I Shale P. P t This was son somewhat am n. b n artIcle 1 I of I-of of or the law low of or Dc Dec Ii 14 U. I d IN i j 74 4 roC rf if which tim the aim was 38 lo to lay d oj w n II rul rules of practice for Cor the r r. r i f t the th h. h constitutional amei m n lid lid- f Sept 25 1873 The hf irid louse u was as follows follows' iI iII i i ii I i arid and church hurch al' al arc Independent t r fu i II h the r Congress cannot enact I Cl v lau lj or prohibiting I 11 n liv religion u hut but tile the slate exercises x oJ authority UI over nfl all of or th them m In so foris faris for far or is to the preservation of public order r and the he observance of or legal In- In II u j I Th second cf rr the 10 low law of or orI I I ISH was ins a declaration of religious 4 tolerance antI and freedom of or worship lp In th the following terms The tate State guarantees guarantee the exercise of or all nil forms of or worship In the republic It will trill only prosecute and hatI f such ics and practices as though by forms of or worship lp Involve In a misdemeanor or delinquency under the thie th criminal law laws laws' The r-amo r law however r laid down that lint no nn no religious service should h hr hc held out outside of th the lie churches Slate Sin tnt ic Schools Independent I III Other points comprised In Iii tilt the law W were ivele l. l the declaration that marriage isa Is Isa Isa I a civil contract the nb absolute secularization of oC public instruction and th the prohibition of religious orders But there thieve are ate two points to which ue wp consider e r that It Is pf pertinent to draw attention It II has been seen n that the lie state slate while allowing the exercise of all forms olms of worship reserved to itself the S right of If vigilance f over r them all In soi so o for far as should he be necessary mr for Cor th the i maintenance of the tho public order and andro to ro prevent any infringement of the th general precepts of the tho I law w governing t I such cacti matters as nB for Cor p example the precept forbidding open air r er lre lreIn In Iii other words word th the state a a. ume certain police vollee functions In regard to worship In the Interests of or pa and order and of the general welfare of r the community I It also undertakes to 10 assure aMur to tn people lien IWO pit of ot all nIh religious faiths Ih the tr fn- fn tr I right of ot practicing th their lr particular I forms forma of or worship and therefore as- as I aumes mm the obligation of prot Ing I them against the lie attacks attak of intolerant minI minI- 1 rant of or other r creeds Churches Mu Iu t Ho lie Reported But Elut In order that hat It may p I I this Ihl elementary duty the state tat ne neds ds to be informed as am to the churches or r I other othE edifices In which religious worshIp worship wor wor- ship In 11 conducted and wor-I wor Article Article Ar Ar- fete 7 of or th the la v of if December r 1 JS' JS 74 laid down that down that when n a church hurch was wa- wap up- up r I ened for Cor wOT worship notice must 1 be Iw glon gb- gb gl gol on by those concerned to th the flu local 1 po- po i I authorities i I This provision which Is 19 obeyed both by Ca Catholics 1 holls holl's a and amid lid I Prou Protestants in thin r country I Is of nr spi- spi sp p.- p. I Interest in view of oC tie fie church h U Ih I 1 conflict t in 10 Fran France f for mn many ny persons have hl claimed to ro find In ti the tH i i tent n-tent in question 8 It to In ih tb notices which lit tho French authorities I were WErt willing to accept o as I n- n F wI hll under th the the- law v of t f J I issi S 55 1 I. I i and which the Pope ha has haM mi n I th h. h 1 French clergy to give Be Bp this Ibis n nn as It may I there la can laI I I. I In k n ii I doubt butt that Article 16 26 of what whal may mi I. I li In- i called I tie the I f Mexican Melcan Separation 1111 i much more mOl lib liberal ra 1 and much uch iv or l I-er I lorthan than the corresponding pr I In iii Inthe I the French Frinch law luw r f.-r rI the th stall 5 I of or ecclesiastical edifices and ani I h liili h. h ion ion- 11 1 tents The Mexican law simply Imply stat il that hit I while all churches which hail had t I. I h. h n nI n ii I rationalized nationalized continued to be hl th Ih thi I i imp ii- ii 1 erty of or the thc nation the religion religion- i. b I In charge hurC of or lh them m should i rm m-im m in without any further formality III In undisturbed un I disturbed and exclusive lv i ii i I II thereof with the privilege and lilly duty I lie if I maintaining ant and Improving thorn them suit suj I led however to ro the states state's right ulti ultimately I to In dh dispose pmt of ot t i tin tin- h. h property If It Il should see lit II Here er was isas a full rull assertion of I the h states state's eminent domain over owr the churches as ns national property but hut th thiS thiS' legislators of If M Mexico sagaciously av Hid Id I ed d running any risk of or being foret d h hy their adroit clerical opponents into odium breeding Interference ne with a given form of or worship The framers of the separation law in iii France FrancC have not mint allowed 1110 wise course w whether this be 10 owing to o the bureaucratic or 01 to the tho clerical anti spirit or 01 both |