CHAPTER XXIV.
ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS.
1800-1887.
Relations of Church and State — Demoralization of the Clergy — Their Influence Waning — Measures to Curtail their Power — Intrigues — The Clergy and the Reactionists Coöperating — Sequestration of Church Property — Banishment of Bishops — Creation of New Dioceses — Condition of the Church during the Regency — Differences between the Pope and Maximilian — Policy of the Latter — Liberal Changes — Freedom of Worship a Fact — Monastic Orders — Their Suppression — Religious Societies — Property and Revenue of the Clergy — Church Feasts — Superstitions — Intellectual Improvement.
The Mexican church, after the country became independent, was for a number of years in an abnormal state. Archbishop Fonte abandoned his post, and the pope refused to declare his see vacant. Several of the suffragan dioceses had been bereft of their pastors by death, and others had been forsaken. The ecclesiastical government devolved on the chapters. The pope endeavored to induce the faithful[1] to renew allegiance to the Spanish crown, in which he failed. For a long time he refused to confirm bishops, or to do anything toward relieving the condition of Mexico, because of his political relations with the Spanish court. At last, after the final triumph of the Mexican arms over the Spanish expedition at Tampico, the pope confirmed the bishops nominated
- ↑ Encyclical letter of Sept. 24, 1824, extolling Fernando VII. Gaceta, Mex., 1825, i. no. 39; Ward's Mex. in 1827, 327-8; La Cruz, vi. 524-5.
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