1920s and 1930s persecution of the church in Mexico
What does a charitable approach towards the persecution of the church involve?
Governor Tomás Garrido Canabal - here in suit and tie - led a sustained campaign against the Catholic church in Mexico less than a century ago. It is his campaign that lies behind Graham Greene’s novel The Power and the Glory.
See what you make of the following assessment of the historical context of the novel, and the suggested principles for a a charitable reading of the events. There are perhaps implications for the ways that we read other people in our context.
What does the Bible say?
- Historical Context
The 1930s in Mexico were marked by significant social and political upheaval following the Mexican Revolution (1910-1920). The post-revolutionary government sought to implement radical reforms to modernise the country and address long-standing inequalities. This period, known as the Maximato (1928-1934), saw former president Plutarco Elías Calles wielding considerable influence even after his official term ended.
The Catholic Church had been a powerful institution in Mexico since colonial times, often aligning with conservative political forces. This alliance had contributed to the concentration of wealth and power that the revolution sought to dismantle. The post-revolutionary government viewed the Church as an obstacle to progress and a potential source of counter-revolutionary sentiment.
The conflict between Church and State had been brewing for decades, with the 1857 Constitution already establishing secular education and other measures to limit Church power. However, the 1917 Constitution went further, imposing strict regulations on religious practice and clerical rights. These tensions culminated in the Cristero War (1926-1929), a violent conflict between the government and Catholic rebels.
Although an agreement was reached in 1929 to end the Cristero War, anti-clerical sentiment remained strong in many areas, particularly in states like Tabasco and Chiapas. This is the immediate backdrop against which Greene’s novel is set.
- Political Landscape
President Calles, who served from 1924 to 1928, was particularly zealous in implementing anti-clerical policies. Even after his presidency, he continued to exert significant influence over his successors during the Maximato period.
Key aspects of the anti-clerical policies included:
- Strict enforcement of constitutional articles limiting Church activities
- Nationalisation of Church properties
- Restrictions on the number of priests allowed to operate in each state
- Mandatory registration of clergy with the government
- Prohibition of religious education in schools
- Bans on public religious ceremonies and wearing of clerical garb in public
These policies were part of a broader effort to create a secular, modernised Mexican state. The government saw the Church as an impediment to progress, associating it with the old regime and foreign influence.
However, it’s important to note that the intensity of enforcement varied across the country. Some states, like Tabasco under Governor Tomás Garrido Canabal, implemented particularly harsh measures, while others were more moderate in their approach.
- Local Variations
Tabasco and Chiapas, the settings for Greene’s novel, were known for particularly stringent enforcement of anti-clerical policies.
In Tabasco, Governor Tomás Garrido Canabal (1922-1935) implemented what he called “rational atheism.” His policies included:
- Renaming towns and geographical features to remove religious references
- Organising “cultural festivals” that often involved the destruction of religious artefacts
- Promoting anti-religious education and youth organisations
- Closing or repurposing churches
- Expelling or killing priests who refused to leave or marry
Chiapas, while not as extreme as Tabasco, also saw significant anti-clerical activity. The state’s remote location and large indigenous population made it a complex environment for both Church and State activities.
These local variations highlight the importance of understanding regional differences in how national policies were interpreted and enforced. They also underscore the personal impact of such policies on individuals and communities, as vividly portrayed in Greene’s novel.
- Motivations Behind Anti-clerical Policies
The motivations behind the anti-clerical policies were complex and multifaceted:
Modernisation and secularisation: The post-revolutionary government saw the Church as an obstacle to creating a modern, secular state. They believed that reducing the Church’s influence would allow for more progressive social and economic policies.
Reaction against historical conservatism: The Church had often aligned with conservative forces throughout Mexican history, including supporting the French intervention in the 1860s and Porfirio Díaz’s long dictatorship. The revolutionaries sought to break this alliance and reduce the Church’s political power.
Nationalism and anti-foreign sentiment: The Catholic Church was seen as tied to foreign interests, particularly European powers. Limiting its influence was part of asserting national sovereignty and Mexican identity.
Land reform: The Church was one of the largest landowners in Mexico. Nationalising Church properties was seen as a step towards more equitable land distribution.
Education reform: The government viewed religious education as perpetuating social inequality and superstition. Secular education was seen as key to creating an informed, modern citizenry.
Power consolidation: Some argue that anti-clerical policies were also a means for the new revolutionary government to consolidate its power by weakening a potential rival institution.
Understanding these motivations helps to contextualise the policies without necessarily justifying their more extreme manifestations.
- Impact on Clergy and Believers
The anti-clerical policies had profound impacts on both the clergy and lay Catholics:
- Clergy:
- Many priests were forced into hiding or exile
- Some were arrested, and in extreme cases, executed
- Those who remained often had to operate clandestinely
- Shortage of priests led to many communities being without regular religious services
- Lay Catholics:
- Closure of churches and bans on public worship disrupted religious practices
- Some faced persecution or discrimination for their beliefs
- Underground networks developed to support hidden priests and maintain religious practices
- In some areas, people had to travel long distances or cross state lines to attend Mass
- Religious education:
- Ban on religious schools forced many to close or go underground
- Parents had to find alternative ways to provide religious education to their children
- Cultural impact:
- Many religious artefacts and buildings were destroyed or repurposed
- Traditional religious festivals and customs were disrupted
- Resistance:
- Some Catholics engaged in active resistance, ranging from peaceful civil disobedience to armed rebellion (as in the Cristero War)
- Others found ways to adapt their religious practices to the new circumstances
These impacts varied in intensity across different regions and over time, but they fundamentally altered the religious landscape of Mexico during this period.
- Complexity of Characters
Graham Greene’s novel “The Power and the Glory” is notable for its nuanced portrayal of characters on both sides of the religious conflict. This complexity reflects the real-world ambiguities and moral dilemmas faced by individuals during this turbulent period:
The “whisky priest”: The protagonist is a deeply flawed individual, struggling with alcoholism and past moral failings. Yet, he continues to perform his priestly duties at great personal risk. This portrayal challenges simplistic notions of heroism and religious devotion.
The lieutenant: The government official pursuing the priest is not depicted as a one-dimensional villain. Instead, he’s shown to have genuine ideals and a desire to improve society, even if his methods are extreme.
The mestizo: This character, who betrays the priest, represents the complex motivations that could drive individuals in such circumstances, including poverty and opportunism.
Lay Catholics: The novel portrays a range of responses among believers, from fervent devotion to pragmatic adaptation to the new reality.
Other clergy: Contrasts are drawn between the protagonist and other priests, some who have compromised with the authorities and others who have fled.
By presenting such complex characters, Greene invites readers to consider the human dimension of the conflict beyond ideological divisions. This approach allows for a more nuanced understanding of the historical situation and its impact on individuals.
- Long-term Consequences
The period of intense anti-clerical activity in Mexico had several long-term consequences:
Church-State relations: While tensions eventually eased, the separation of Church and State became firmly established in Mexican politics and society.
Religious practice: The period led to changes in how Catholicism was practised in Mexico, with a greater emphasis on lay involvement and adaptation to local circumstances.
Political landscape: The conflict contributed to the eventual moderation of the ruling party’s policies and the emergence of more conservative political movements.
Cultural impact: The period left a lasting mark on Mexican culture, literature, and art, as reflected in works like Greene’s novel and numerous Mexican films and books.
Education: The emphasis on secular education remained a cornerstone of the Mexican education system.
International relations: The conflict affected Mexico’s relations with other countries, particularly the Vatican and the United States.
Religious diversity: While Catholicism remained the dominant religion, the weakening of the Church’s official position eventually led to greater religious diversity in Mexico.
Understanding these long-term consequences helps to place the events described in Greene’s novel in a broader historical context and appreciate their lasting significance.
Guiding Principles for a Charitable Approach towards the anti-Catholic campaign
Acknowledge the validity of concerns on both sides of the conflict: Recognise that both the state and religious actors had legitimate concerns and motivations. The post-revolutionary government sought to address real issues of inequality and modernise the country, while the Church and its followers had valid fears about religious freedom and the preservation of their faith and traditions.
Avoid oversimplification or demonisation of either the state or religious actors: Resist the temptation to paint either side as uniformly villainous or heroic. Recognise the diversity of perspectives and approaches within both the government and the Church. Be cautious about projecting contemporary values onto historical actors.
Recognise the suffering caused by the persecution while understanding the historical context that led to it: Acknowledge the very real suffering experienced by many Catholics during this period, while also placing this persecution within its broader historical context. This includes understanding the long history of Church-State relations in Mexico and the revolutionary context in which these events took place.
Consider how the experiences of ordinary people were affected by these policies and conflicts: Focus on how these policies and conflicts affected daily life in Mexican communities. This perspective helps to humanise the historical events and understand their real-world implications, revealing the diverse ways in which people adapted to, resisted, or were victimised by the policies.
Reflect on how Greene’s novel contributes to our understanding of this period, while acknowledging its limitations as a work of fiction: Recognise the valuable insights offered by “The Power and the Glory,” particularly in its exploration of moral ambiguity and the human impact of the conflict. However, also acknowledge the novel’s limitations as a historical source, recognising Greene’s perspective as an outsider.
Think about the ways in which this historical event relates to broader questions of religious freedom, secularism, and state power: Connect this specific historical event to larger, ongoing debates about the relationship between religion and the state. This can include discussions about the limits of state power in regulating religious practice, the role of religion in public life and politics, and the challenges of balancing secularism with religious freedom.
By following these principles, we can engage in a more nuanced, empathetic, and productive discussion of this complex historical period and its representation in literature. This approach allows us to draw meaningful lessons from history while avoiding oversimplification or misappropriation of the past.