—Says U.S.A. Priest
The indecision which still hangs over the Mexican presidential elections, in which something very like a popular revolt against the Red regime of President Cardenas was the main feature, makes the exact position there far from clear.
Camacho, the official Government candidate, and general Almazan, who
had a large Catholic and anti-Red following, both claimed a victory. Camacho claimed 2,136,625 votes and Almazan 2,400,000. But the Electoral Commission has only allowed the latter, who is in the U.S.A., 151,100 votes.
There has been some bloodshed in popular risings.
Recently Camacho declared himself to be a Catholic. The following eye-witness account of affairs in Mexico is by an American priest, the Rev. Raymond F. Gorman, Litt.D., head of the Spanish department at De Sales College, Toledo, who spent several weeks this summer in Mexico.
" Camacho," he states, " was not elected president of Mexico. That is the opinion of every person with whom I discussed the matter in Mexico, from the Rio Grande to She Pacific Ocean. So the promises to extend liberty to the Church come from a rascal who is about to commit a grave injustice and brazen fraud by depriving Almazan of the presidency.
" Camacho was, and is, tied up with the extreme Leftist group. He was pledged to support them. Camacho's family is Catholic. But like all the politicos ' in the Latin American countries he seems to think that he can protect the interests of the Church (or at least appear to do so) and at the same time favour and support her enemies."
,GOVERNMENT IS RED
All the people seemed to think that Almazan would be the salvation of Mexico.
Camacho was the Communist candidate. The government of Mexico is Red, Masonic and corrupt. Every effort was made by the government machine to assure the election of Camacho.
From one end of Mexico to the other, in every city, village and hamlet, there were signs in letters six feet high painted on the houses and walls of the towns. These signs read, for the most part: Camacho Will Be the Next President ; Camacho the Friend of the Workingman; Camacho the Friend of the Fernier.
The only criticism of Almazan that came to our knowledge was a handbill placed in our car as it was parked in front of the Jesuit church.
The handbill called upon Catholics to reject Almazan (a month after the election) since among his supporters were Morons, Jarero and Roberto Cruz, the men who were responsible for the murder of Fr. Pro.
The great mass of people is Catholic, and faith is strong, especially in the country districts.
At present there is no restriction on priests saying Mass in Mexico. We had no trouble saying Mass any place.
But there is no religion taught in government schools, and catechists are busy everywhere teaching and preparing children for their first Communion.
The Bishop of Saltillo told me that he wears his Roman collar on the street in the towns of his diocese.