Book review: ‘Saints and Sinners in the Cristero War’

This is an interesting book about the Cristero War, which took place in Mexico in the 1920s and 1930s, when the Mexican government became anti-Catholic and especially anti-clerical with the 1917 constitution.

The presidents of the time were not Catholics. This oppression and persecution of the Catholic Church in Mexico is quite odd since around 90% of the people are Catholic. It is the second largest population of Catholics in the Church.

In the book, Monsignor James T. Murphy tells the stories of some of those on both sides of the war in “Saints and Sinners in the Cristero War: Stories of Martyrdom from Mexico.”

The government wanted to wipe out the Catholic Church or set up its own church, similar to what exists in China now. They even had designated an old priest to be the “patriarch,” but he and his followers were chased out of churches and other places. Thus, the national church did not get off the ground due to the sharp opposition of the population.

The 1917 anti-Catholic constitution deprived the Church of land, buildings and other freedoms. The government was usually ruled by a president, but it was usually a former president who actually ruled in the background, like Pultarco Calles.

The government tried to limit the number of priests per Mexican state. They wanted to appoint the bishops. The government kicked out foreign religious and clergy. They exiled many of the bishops who went to the Los Angeles and San Antonio areas.

Some bishops stayed, like Archbishop Francisco Orozco of Guadalajara. He stayed, but was constantly in hiding. One of the famous martyrs was Blessed Miguel Augustin Pro, who did his ministry in secret. He was eventually caught with his brother and falsely accused of a crime, with both shot. The government wanted to make a spectacle of them by having a lot of journalists and photographers present. This backfired.

Blessed Miguel Pro’s last words were “Viva Cristo Rey!” which means “Long live Christ!” Murphy devotes a chapter to him and the archbishop.

Another chapter is devoted to Saint Toribio Romo, who was martyred at the age of 27. Saint Toribio has reportedly been seen at the Mexican-United States border helping immigrants in need. I know he has relatives living here in Oklahoma. There is also a shrine in his honor at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Tulsa.

Many of the priests and bishops were encouraged by Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical “Rerum Novarum” of 1891 in their ministry in helping the poor and the workers who were being mistreated. Lay people were encouraged too and rose up against the government who was oppressing them for their faith. There were several organizations which Monsignor Murphy mentions of men and of women who thwarted the government’s attempts to control the people.

Some of the actions of these groups were so secret that even today we do not know exactly who were members or what they actually did. The author relates how women were a major source of opposition to the government.

Murphy shows that there was support from anti-Catholic Americans who supported the Mexican government. One group was the Klu Klux Klan.  Eventually American Catholics and others were able to influence the American and Mexican governments to put an end to war and let the Catholic Church exist. They read and heard about the atrocities committed by the Mexican government.

The Mexican government agreed to stop the persecution, although some persecution of the Church continued even up to the days Saint Pope John Paul II visited. Some wondered if he would need special permission to wear his cassock in 1979.

This book by Monsignor Murphy is highly recommended to those interested in Cristero War. It is not a boring academic telling of the history, but a lively presentation.

Br. Benet Exton, O.S.B., Saint Gregory's Abbey, Shawnee, is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.