that only a few bishops were known to visit all their towns, and then perhaps only once. It appears also that a number of the bishops were not conscientious pastors, and usually neglected their duties. In the cathedral chapters were many incompetent men, who had obtained their places by simony. Not a few of the priests were living examples of immorality, who disgraced their cloth, and were sores in the body social. Many of them lacked the proper educational attainments. On the other hand, there were those, unfortunately a small minority, who by their virtues, learning, and devotion to duty did honor to their calling, and yet had to suffer for the evil courses or failings of the others. A large portion of the more intelligent people came to feel an aversion to the clergy in general, who consequently lost their influence. It was not that they had become irreligious, as the ecclesiastics and their partisans would have the world believe. There were, however, a number of the educated class who rejected all religion, and called themselves naturalistas.
The encyclical letter of Leo XII., to which I have alluded, cruelly wounded the self-respect of the Mexicans; harsh sentiments were fearlessly uttered, at times unjust, and at others founded on exaggerated reports, but always containing some grains of truth, tending to lower the priests in public estimation. The patronato, an irritating matter — made so by the papal policy — was warmly discussed, and led to the adoption of principles deeply affecting the mind and heart, and which never lost their hold. The facilities for procuring books, the treatment freely in the press, at public meetings, and private conversations, of the evils imputed to the clergy, and other things, account for the great change which had already taken place in the early years of the republic.[1] It must not be supposed, nevertheless, that their influence wholly
- ↑ Mora, Rev. Mex., i. 115; Richthofen, Rep. Mex., 198-9. The clergy then applied themselves to retain their influence among the ignorant Indians.
