Apostolic Delegate to Mexico Tells of Expulsion

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 14, 12 April 1923, Page 45

Apostolic Delegate to Mexico Tells of Expulsion

- His Excellency the Most Rev. Ernesto Filippi, "Titular "Archbishop of Sardica and Apostolic Delegate to Mexico, has arrived here en route to Rome, where he will report personally to Pope Pius regarding the incidents which caused the Mexican Government to issue a- decree that, he leave that country in 72 hours (says a N.C.W.C. News Service report, under date Washington, D.C., January 29, in an American exchange). " There was neither intended nor actual violation of the Mexican law involved in the ceremony at the Mountain of Cubilete, which was seized upon by enemies of the Church to demand his expulsion (declared Archbishop Filippi in an interview given to the N.C.W.C. News Service). Governor Madraso, of the State in -which the ceremonies were held, approved the programme before it was carried out, Monsignor Filippi explained. He further pointed out that he had previously participated in a similar ceremony in the capital itself without a single protest. Archbishop Filippi did not participate in the religions procession held in connection with the ceremonies at Cubilete. This procession took place on the day previous to his participation in the ceremony of the blessing of the cornerstone of the provisional church. Archbishop Filippi's Statement. "President Obregon was always kind and gentle to me, and it is very hard for me to understand the reason for this drastic measure," declared Archbishop Filippi. "There was no violation of the law involved. The Mountain of Cubilete, where the ceremony of blessing the corner, stone took place, is private property. It is not therefore a public place. Distinguished lawyers corroborated this opinion. Governor Madraso approved all the ceremonies and communicated with the Bishop of Leon, in whose diocese the site of the provisional church is located, assuring him that there would be no question of a violation of law. Afterwards, when pressure was exerted from another quarter, the Governor changed his views, and it was contended that the law was violated because the participating prelates took part in a public procession. I took no part in the procession, which occurred on the day previous to the day on which I blessed the cornerstone. "The site on which the ceremony of blessing the cornerstone took place was a provisional or temporary church, since a complete church could not be expected to exist where the first stone was being laid. According to the contentions v now held it always would be. impossible to solemnise the religious laying of a cornerstone. I participated in a similar ceremony in the capital itself, in the colony 'del Velle,' without any protest being made. " "Legal opinion was strongly in favor of my right to participate in the ceremony. One distinguished lawyer pointed out that according to Article 24 of the Constitution, public acts of worship can be celebrated in the churches and in private houses, and declared that the property of an individual should beyond doubt be considered part of his residence. Such was the case at the Mountain of Cubilete. ; "Besides, it was pointed out by this lawyer, we must take into consideration the reasons alleged by the' very authors of these reform laws for forbidding public acts of worship. These reasons were that persons of 'different religions might be hurt by processions arid other religious acts in the public thoroughfares, and, moreover, that they wished to avoid any disagreement or friction whatever. None of these circumstances existed ;. in the case under consideration. There, on. private property, a multitude of persons of the same religious belief gathered for a popular and. religious ceremony.. The blessing of the cornerstone of the monument took place in a space enclosed on all sides. This place was,- therefore, our provisional or temporary church.'" / '; ' ; . -v '* : .} Comment of Catholic RrU-m. :•,/ Archbishop Filippi called attention to the comment made by La Bama, Catolica, the national .. oijgan of the Union of the Catholic Ladies of Mexico, regarding the attitude adopted by the Freemasons .-, of ... Mexico} City with respect to the religious observance at Cubilete. "The Masons of this city," gays La t)ama Catolica, "thought proper to make themselves ridiculous? by a pro-

testation published in the press of the 14th instant against * the flagrant violation made of the Reform laws by the traitorous, party called clerical in arrogating to themselves the faculty of raising a monument to Christ the King ,J ) on the Mountain of Cubiletean. act penalised by our laws.’ ■ 1 .. •\ * “First: What does not exist cannot be violated, and nothing exists actually that can be called ‘Reform Laws.’ These laws were incorporated in the Constitution of 1857, and it is evident that they were abolished when said Constitution was abolished. The precepts or articles which it was desired should remain in vigor were incorporated in the Constitution of 1917. To this, then, we must refer and nothing else. “Second: All the Mexican people belong, therefore to the ‘ traitorous clerical party ’ that wishes to erect a monument to Christ the King, since from every part of the Republic offerings have been sent for the monumentbecause it is Catholic Mexico that is raising it, and the Catholics in Mexico are such an overwhelming majority that they will be classed as the total.' “Third: The Cubilete is the private property of Dr. Macias. By the erection of the monument on it with the owner s permission no one arrogates himself any faculty l«?T r ' Where the,,; « ‘ th » penalised by „„r

“Fourth: The contemptuous question mark placed after the expression ‘Christ, the King,’ as well as the spirit of the entire protestation shows forth in the clearest manner the unmasked rage of the lodges. Nevertheless ’no are weaned by hearing Masonry proclaiming itself neutral, a philanthropic society, a mutual aid, etc. Let this open the eyes of any candid fool who may vet need to be enlightened.

“His Excellency the Apostolic Delegate has given to ns offenders a lesson of delicacy and dignity. Without a T of reproach or defence, refusing courteously every offer of diplomatic or legal steps in his favor, he retires silently from the country he loves so well, and where, in eturn, he is loved so sincerely, so heartily venerated.”