Cristiada – The Cristeros War

Yesterday the movie Cristiada  (English title: For the Greater Glory) was released in Mexico. There’s a huge billboard on the road near the Centro de Proyección Universitaria. The movie is based on the war of the Cristeros (so named because of their battle cry “¡Viva Cristo Rey!”) against the Federal Government here in Mexico.

I’d heard about the anti-clerical laws in Mexico, some of which were only repealed in 1992. Some were still in force – for example, public religious services are banned without the permission of the government. This law was repealed just before the visit of the Pope! 

The church is still prohibited from owing media such as newspapers, radio and television. I noticed on the entry visa card I had to fill in there was a space for identifying your employment  - among the options were "Student", "Unemployed", "Worker" and "Minister of Religion". I wondered if: a) I was going to be refused entry by ticking "Minister of Religion" and b) they didn't consider being a priest was working! I was allowed in.

The Cristeros War, after brewing for a few years, broke out in 1927. Its immediate causes are in the severe application by President Plutarco Elias Calles of the anticlerical application provisions in the post revolutionary constitution of 1917. As he was a founder of the PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional) some see a political agenda in releasing the film now. Mexico will elect their next president later this year. The candidate of the PRI is one of the front runners.

Government Forces with Mass ornaments taken from Cristeros after their failed attempt to attack a train. The caption makes reference to the leadership of the "Bandit Friars Angulo, Vega and Vizcarra".

Under Elias Calles’ application of the anticlerical laws, priests were forbidden to wear clerical garb in public, priests were imprisoned for criticising the government, Church property was confiscated and desecrated, foreign priests and religious were expelled, monasteries, convents and Catholic Schools were closed.

In response the Church suspended all activity, including Masses and other celebrations for almost four years. Catholics, including some priests took up arms agains the Federal Government.

The banner across the tabernacle reads: "He is not here".

There is a fuller treatment of the issue at (where else?!) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristero_War

The Society of Mary had a parish in Mexico City that catered for French citizens living here. They were not too affected by the conflict – they kept a low profile and Mexico City was not a conflict zone.

The war, while it was a bloody and cruel conflict, popped up several interesting characters – including Frs  Aristeo Pedroza and José Reyes Vega, who both became Generals in the Cristeros’ Army. Aristeo was known as the “Pure One” for his moral discipline. Fr Reyes on the other hand was known for his dissolute life and cruelty in battle. A cardinal called him a “black hearted assassin”! Both priests were killed in action.

Father General Miguel Anguiano Márques and some of his troops. He died in Mexico City in 1975.

The film centres around the character of General Enrique Gorostieta Velarde, who, bizarrely an anti-clericial liberal atheist, took up the military leadership of the Cristeros Army. Gorostieta did so motivated by the high pay he was offered, a desire to defend the rights of his wife (played by Eva Longoria – former desperate housewife!) to practice her faith and probably some political ambition. Apparently he took to wearing a crucifix and asserting that God was his strength. I’m off to see it tomorrow!