STATE V. CHURCHES MEXICO.

Grey River Argus, Volume XIV, Issue 1750, 14 March 1874, Page 4

STATE V. CHURCHES MEXICO.

The Pall Matt Gazette says :— "The recent decrees of the Mexican Congress against the domination of church over state appear to have been of even a more sweeping nature than was at first reported, and, indeed, to have been carried by the anti-clerical party farther than in any European country. They delare, in the first place, that church and state are to be absolutely severed, and that no religion or denomination is henceforth to be specially recognised or favoured by the latter. Marriage is to be garded as a purely civil contract, and its legitimatisation an affair of the civil authorities alone. No religious corporation may possess any property or charges on any property, except under distinct provisions recognised in the Constitution. Religious oaths in courts of justice are abolished, and a sunpie declaration substituted in all cases. The state refuses to recognise any monastic vows as binding, and any person belonging to a religious order can leave it at any time at his own will. It is remarkable that the same mail that brings these particulars tells of a priest at the capital itself imitating the example of Father Hyacinthe, and publicly taking to himself a wife ; and also of meetings of artisans at which lectures are delivered specially to expose the gross abuse of the system of indulgences for which the Mexican and South American clergy have long been notorious. These are noteworthy events, as occurring in a country which the Catholic church has had the teaching of in her own hand ever since Cortez conquered it."