Movie on Mexico's War Against Catholics Offers Timely Lessons

Catholic News Agency ^ | 3/22/12 | David Kerr

[marshmallow]

Rome, Italy, Mar 22, 2012 / 04:00 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The producer of a new film that brings to life the fight against the Mexican government’s persecution of Catholics in the 1920s says there are clear parallels to today’s situation in the United States and elsewhere.

“I think what we are living now is the same things that happened at that time, and after you watch the movie you will see there are a lot of topics that are very alive right now,” Pablo José Barroso, producer of “For Greater Glory,” told CNA on March 21.

“For Greater Glory” – formerly called “Cristiada” – charts the history of Mexico’s Cristero War that was sparked by anti-clerical legislation being passed by the Mexican President Elías Calles in 1926. Those laws banned religious orders, deprived the Church of property rights and denied priests civil liberties, including the right to trial by jury and the right to vote.

The persecution became so fierce that some Catholics began to forcibly resist, fighting under the slogan and banner of “Cristo Rey” (Christ the King).

“This story broke our hearts, but it’s a story that has to be told,” said Barroso.

“It is a real story about people who stood up for their beliefs, and as a Mexican, I am very proud to share with the world this Mexican story which even many Mexicans don’t know about.”

The film is directed by Dean Wright and stars award-winning actors Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria and Peter O’Toole among others. “We’re trying to do values movies” with high production quality, explained Barroso, who was present at a premier of the film in Rome on March 20.

On Sunday, March 25, Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate Mass with over 400,000 pilgrims in the central Mexican city of Silao. He will..........

[Fiji Hill]

The Cristero war is the subject of Red Mexico: A Reign of Terror in America by Frank McCullagh (New York: Carrier, 1928). However, the book has long been out of print.

[surroundedbyblue]

Wow! I hope this story gets out there.......1920s Mexico is unbelievable parallel to what is happening today in the US. Also, Woodrow Wilson supported the persecution & slaughter of Catholics at the hands of Mexican officials. Sick.

[marron]

This is one I will want to see.

I met someone whose family was caught up in the cristero revolt, and it has long intrigued me. Especially since it seems to have mostly gone down the memory hole.

[cloudmountain]

The French Revolution took my family to Mexico in the late 1700's, as two French brothers were touring Mexico at the time.

The Mexican Revolution of the early 1900's sent my Mexican family to the USA. My grandfather married an American who was half Spanish and half Irish, so the Mexican family came here via the grandmother's American citizenship. The Irish great grandmother left Ireland in the potato famine, made it ALL the way to California and married a Spanish-Californian. She left us her turned up Irish nose.

My mother's stories of her family's immigration had some to do with wars in Europe.

This is the last stop!!! I ain't going anywhere!