Title: Anti-clericalism in Mexico - Wikipedia
Headings: Anti-clericalism in Mexico
Anti-clericalism in Mexico
Contents
Beginning of anticlericalism and persecution
Calles presidency and Cristero War
Mid-twentieth century
Removal of many anticlerical provisions from the constitution
Martyrs
See also
External links
References

Content: Then after the moderate Porfirio Díaz there was a strong resurgence of anticlericalism. In 1917, a new Constitution was enacted, hostile to the Church and religion, which promulgated an anti-clericalism similar to that seen in France during the Revolution. The new Mexican Constitution was hostile to the Church as a consequence of the support given by Catholic church authorities to the dictatorship of Victoriano Huerta. The 1917 Constitution outlawed teaching by the Church, gave control over Church matters to the state, put all Church property at the disposal of the state, outlawed religious orders and foreign-born priests, gave states the power to limit or eliminate priests in their territory, deprived priests of the right to vote or hold office, prohibited Catholic organizations which advocated public policy and religious publications from commenting on policy, prohibited clergy from religious celebrations and from wearing clerical garb outside of a church, and deprived citizens of the right to a trial for violations of these provisions. One political scientist stated that the gist of the 1917 constitution was to "effectively outlaw the Roman Catholic Church and other religious denominations"; it also emboldened Communist labor unions, paving the way for anti-religious governments. Recent President Vicente Fox stated: " After 1917, Mexico was led by anti-Catholic Freemasons who tried to evoke the anticlerical spirit of popular, indigenous President Benito Juarez of the 1880s. But the military dictators of the 1920s were a lot more savage than Juarez." Fox goes on to recount how priests were killed for trying to perform the sacraments, altars were desecrated by soldiers, and freedom of religion outlawed by generals.