When Catholics were Cristeros

The following comes from a May 14 article on Real Clear Religion.

President Barack Obama might have known better than to have picked a fight with Catholics. History would tell him that they rarely lose.

During the 1920s, Mexican President Plutarco Elías Calles found that out the hard way. As this year’s historical epic For Greater Glory shows, Catholics don’t give up without a long and bloody fight.

The film opens with Calles berating Mexico’s Catholics as “outcasts from Rome” and “fanatics of foreign interests.” He outlaws public worship and pledges to deport anyone who protests. Nonviolent activists regularly flooded the streets and petitioned others for support, but Calles and his government didn’t relent.

While chants and marches did little to move Calles, a boycott of Mexican businesses “as a sort of Lent” to bankrupt the government riled Calles to his core. He directed his military to enforce the anticlerical laws with deadly force. Churchgoers were shot up indiscriminately, Cathedrals destroyed, priests publicly executed — perhaps one priest too many.

Father Christopher, played by the incomparable Peter O’Toole, was an old, small-town parish priest who mentored a young boy named José Luis Sánchez del Rio. One day the government forces reached the doors of their Church. José pleaded with his priest to escape, but Father Christopher refused: “Who are you if you don’t stand up for what you believe?”

With José watching, Father Christopher was led out and shot by firing squad. Though only fourteen at the time, a newly inspired José convinced his mother to let him join the rebellion. Problem was, the Catholics who took up arms against the government were rural rancheros without any clear leadership or strategy.

The leaders of the nonviolent movement decided that while they wouldn’t fire the rifles, they ought to find a general who would. Their unlikely choice: an atheist. Andy Garcia delivers a stunning performance as Enrique Gorostieta Velarde, who was a decorated general with many victories and a restless Catholic wife. She tells him that he “cannot fight for something you don’t believe in.” With a kiss to the cheek, Gorostieta says he “believes in religious freedom” — which he thinks should be enough.

Not too long after that, we see Gorostieta meeting the leaders of various factions he was hired to lead. Strangely, Gorostieta’s atheism has left him — briefly — as he rallies the troops by telling them they are Cristeros fighting “for God, for the Church, and for absolute freedom.”

Meanwhile, President Calles is making other enemies. Calles began enforcing an article of the Mexican constitution that made everything under the soil property of the State. This threatened European and United States oil interests, a threat President Calvin Coolidge would have none of.

Coolidge sent Ambassador Dwight Morrow to Mexico with the specific instruction to avoid war. Throughout a series of meetings, Morrow would bring up the “conflict” with the Catholic Church to which Calles responds, “Oh, that’s nothing.”

During a clandestine meeting with Mexican bishops on a train, Morrow found out the conflict is quite a bit more than that. As the bishops were pleading with him for American support, Morrow glanced out the window to see Cristeros hanging from telephone poles. Visibly shaken, Morrow excuses himself from the meeting with a newfound inspiration to help end the war.

Back on the battlefield, Gorostieta finds his inspiration too. The general meets José and looks after him as his own son. While carrying the flag during battle, José is captured by government forces and tortured. A devastated Gorostieta begins a mission to save José, but is too late.

Throughout the torture, José is repeatedly told that he will be spared if he renounces Christ. His response each time: ¡Viva Cristo Rey!

His tormentors take a machete to his feet and march him to his grave. In an eyes-glued-to-the-screen scene, José is led out of the torture chamber and becomes a kind of Christ as his bloody feet tip-toe through the town square. The soldiers become Romans as they stand José before his grave, now Golgotha.

José is given one last chance to abandon the Cristeros. “They’re only words,” he is told. Smiling, José proclaims Christ the King. At once he is stabbed and falls to his knees. He draws a cross in the sand and kisses it saying, “I’m going home.” He is summarily shot and kicked like a dog into his shallow grave.

Earlier, Gorostieta lamented that he wishes he had faith, but doesn’t know where to find it. In the Christ-like José, faith finds him — and us.

Ambassador Morrow, we are told, eventually brokered a deal to resume worship in Mexico. If only Calles held up his end of the bargain. He directed thousands more Cristeros to be shot, often in their homes. What’s more, Calles imposed an education monopoly with a socialist program aimed at taking “possession of the mind of childhood.” There would be no more José Luis Sánchez del Rios.

The soft persecution of Catholics in Mexico would continue for sometime through Calles cronies. All was not lost, however. A monument to Calles still stands in his hometown of Guaymas, but Calles would likely want his statue placed elsewhere. Less than a block away, bells of a Catholic Church ring out in perpetuity.

Cristiada, as the film is known in Mexico, is already a Titanic at the box office. For many Mexicans, the film is a story not found in their history textbooks. Actor Eduardo Verastegui called the Cristero War a “wound that we’ve buried. I felt we should bring this wound out, learn from it, and show some of the heroes of Mexico who gave their lives for what they believed.”

Even so, many involved in the project have squirmed at the notion that the film might resonate with Catholics in America. No, President Obama is not ordering the deportation of Catholics or bringing priests before firing squads, but this election is shaping up to be a referendum for a reason. Calles would likely applaud the contraception mandate and laugh alongside Nancy Pelosi at “this conscience thing.”

“Freedom is not just for fancy documents,” Gorostieta told his Cristeros — as President Obama may soon find out — it’s also for the ballot box.

For original story, Click here.

 

READER COMMENTS

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 12:57 AM By Kenneth M. Fisher
“No, President Obama is not ordering the deportation of Catholics or bringing priests before firing squads”, NOT YET ANYWAY, BUT! I hope and pray they also tell the story of how 33rd Degree Mason Woodrow Wilson illegally sent the U.S. Fleet to Vera Cruz Harbor to block the necessary supplies coming from Europe for the Cristeros, a move even 33rd Degree Mason Teddy Roosevelt condemned. The big question there is, why did Catholic Naval Officers obey such an illegal order? If I am not mistaken, the Founder of Our Navy was a Catholic, Admiral John Paul Stevens I think was his name. God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 6:26 AM By JMJ
What group was the driving force behind this evil and is not being mentioned for some reason? The Freemasons and they are still very much involved with what is going on in this world today. Almost every President was involved with them, as they think of it as a lodge of friendly men, that will get them into the right places. Obama, as far as I can find out, is not a member, at least not in the open, and seeing how he is a dictator, he doesn’t need them. +JMJ+

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 6:55 AM By Sue in soCal
This is how we should go to the ballot box: Viva Cristo Rey!

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 8:02 AM By mrpkguy
On the cover of the Knights of Columbus monthly magazine “Columbia” the May edition features Andy Garcia as General Gorostieta. Many pictures and articles inside about the Cristerios War make this an outstanding issue and one I shall not discard, but will probably reread many more times.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 8:06 AM By MD
Please encourage all to see this movie. It is necessary for American’s to know what we take for granted and can lose if we do not take a stance now. God Love You.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 8:19 AM By Cheryl
Comparing our political situation with Mexican Cristeros is an act of disrespect and extreme exaggeration of our US situation. Turning the secular politics into a religious war just to defeat a Black president – yes, I do believe it’s racism at the core of this article – is inane. We are not even close to the Cristero situation, so stop attempting to sanctify or add a sense of nobility to politics. Our Church looks ridiculous with this extremist attitude. We are defending nothing even close to the Cristeros. Those accepting this comparison should be ashamed.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 9:13 AM By Cody in Tucson
49 people found mutilated and dead along a Mexican road the other day. 9 people found strung up from a bridge and their heads dumped in front of the local mayor’s office last week. On and on and on. Has much has changed since the 1920’s?

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 9:24 AM By Anthony
Cheryl, it’s hard not to feel sorry for you and the majority of ‘devout’ Catholics who have no idea what’s really going on and have consumed the media’s rendition of our beloved dictator and his hand-picked minions`.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 9:30 AM By Maryanne Leonard
Cheryl, you’re looking for a problem that doesn’t exist when you assert that racism is at the core of our objection to the politics of our president. His color is irrelevant to virtually all of us. As a matter of fact, I’m delighted, personally, that we have a black president, and so is everyone that I know. The problem is, we dislike the politics of this particular black man so much that it colors our outrage against against him as a man unfit to lead our country out of the economic and moral morass into which we have fallen. I like the fact that America was eager to vote for a black man for president and will be equally happy when America becomes ready to vote for a woman or an Asian of any gender, so please don’t dismiss me as a racist when I admit to being eager to depose this black dictator. I would be equally eager to depose a white female if she were such an unworthy president – and Cheryl, I was born both white and a feminist! So put away your race card, Cheryl, it won’t play here.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 9:33 AM By Kate
American Catholics would never, ever do this. They are too comfortable and do not have the fervor of the Mexicans. We live in a protestant culture and have been infected by that. And as Cheryl said the situations are not at all the same. It’s hysteria to claim they are – the American church is pretty soft if it thinks it is.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 10:15 AM By rosaryfixer
Cheryl, please go to some genuine Catholic websites and find out what is really happening in our country and in Canada-much worse in some ways. We live in a nation awash in the blood of 57 million unborn children who have been terrorized in the womb and thrown away like garbage. Contraceptives destroy millions more each year. People with same-sex attraction are determined to have the “right to marry” although it’s impossible for them to consummate a marriage, of course. Legalizing sex with children is on the horizon, though not before the Catholic Church has been bankrupted for just such activities on the part of 1 or 2% of its priests, and half of them have been falsely accused, according to lawyers who specialize in this area. We may not be martyrs, just yet, but it is coming. Fr. Benedict Groeschel allegedly said that the priests being ordained today will be martyrs in the future. We may be deprived of our churches, and the Mass and Sacraments. Lay people who don’t toe the line will also be punished. Time to pray fervently for our country, and unless the majority of people wake up, we will be a socialist country with no rights for anyone except its pagan and atheistic leaders. Real Catholics are not aiming to defeat a president because he is black, but because his aim is to destroy this once-great nation and turn it in to a socialist “paradise.” He has no interest in religious liberty, or individual rights of citizens. Prayer, fasting and devotion to Divine Mercy and Our Lady’s intercession is our only hope.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 10:41 AM By Delilah
No, priests aren’t being shot, yet. Those of us who would die for our faith aren’t being shot, yet. Those events are foreshadowed with the elimination of religious freedom and proclaiming your faith publicly. Freedom to worship is NOT freedom of religion. Pax

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 11:23 AM By Dana
Cheryl, you’ve really got to confront your racism…most of us forget he considers himself black. You forget his mother was a caucasian and that his father was part arabic and part black. I see him as a socialist, an anti-Catholic bigot and a narcissistic sociopath, but the matter of his race is utterly irrelevant. By getting past your obsession with his race, you might be able to question how he’s actively dismantling our Republic through back room activities that undermine our laws, our Constitution and our very future.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 11:38 AM By Alice
Cheryl; There is no disrepect ever when marytyrs are honored. And you are niave if you don’t understand that it can happen here…that is the message. Wake up and realize that each “small bite” is brushed off as “nothing”…we are one step closer. This is not about anyone’s color; it is about freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion. Mr. Obama could be of any skin color…the fact is it doesn’t matter…he is attacking the Church at it’s core…and he is getting luke warm, poorly cathecised “catholics” to help him every step of the way. Politics are not just secular. It reach into every aspect of our lives and some would have that reach become much deeper. You don’t set aside your faith when you enter the voting booth! Pray that the future leaders of this country honor our founders and God’s natural law and protect religious liberty.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 12:22 PM By Mar
The TLM said by Fr. Talcott was stopped at the Castle Vineyards in St. Helena, it is rumored the Socialist Republic of California stepped in to have it removed. If you don’t believe what is happening in our Country just try to build something on your own property!

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 1:51 PM By Tracy
Cheryl, I clicked on the link provided to see who the author of this story was. Turns out he is Caucasian just like me. I also see he holds conservative views just like me. So that being said, since you alluded that Mr. Hahn (the author) is a racist and since I agree with Mr. Hahn’s point of view, I guess it would reason that you would see me as a racist as well. It is my understanding that a racist can’t see the virtues of an individual purely based on hatred of his/her race. As such, I decided to close my eyes and re-envision President Obama as an attractive Caucasian man. (without sinning of course!) I had hoped this would change my opinion of Obama’s policies, but to no avail. Wow! I must really be hopeless! Dear Cheryl, please help me out. Please open my eyes by listing as many virtuous accomplishments/policies as you can which Obama has bestowed on our beloved country. I never before saw myself as a racist, so I would be most grateful if you helped me see the errors of my ways.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 2:40 PM By Catherine
Dana and Maryanne Leonard, Excellent responses to Cheryl. Did you notice that Cheryl uses the words “Our Church” yet Cheryl certainly does not mind running interference for and defending a President who absolutely *hates* our Church.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 3:04 PM By Angelo
Cody in Tucson, I just knew it! This is about the Cristeros not about your hatred. Here goes. If the US did not harbor so many drug addicts, and supply the guns for the cartels, those people would still be alive today. Don’t you agree?

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 3:57 PM By JLS
Cheryl, how can you face yourself in the mirror, knowing that you have a. no clue to Catholicism, b. no clue to US politics, c. no clue to the well being of your fellow man, d. no clue to the evils being perpetrated on the USA and on the world by the present administration infesting the White House.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 4:40 PM By MarkF
Can we see for sure into a future in which priests and lay faithful are shot? Probably not. Can we imagine a future where priests and lay faithful are sent to prison for promoting the faith? Without a doubt. And where the latter is likely, the former becomes possible.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 4:44 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
8:02 AM By mrpkguy, While I agree the story in “Columbia” was great, I cannot understand the hypocrisy of Supreme Carl Anderson’s article in that magazine calling for us to stand up and resist, when he himself is now responsible for many pro-abortion, pro-sodomite politicians and other public figures still being allowed the privilege of membership, some of the Grand Knights are actually Masons. Get a copy of our Constitution and By-Laws, read Article 162-7, and you will understand my ire. They can expel real Knights for bringing attention to this scandal, but they won’t expel the “Knights” who are causing the SCANDAL! We fully intend to stage a demonstration at the upcoming Supreme Council meeting in Anaheim, my backyard! God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 4:58 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Angelo, 3:04 PM, You see anti-latino hate in nearly everything. There was nothing hateful in Cody’s pointing out that which is now common News. Cody has not given his last name, for all you know he could be Hispanic, especially coming from Tucson. God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 5:45 PM By Wynette Sills
Come Stand Up for Religious Freedom in cities across the United States on June 8th! Viva Cristo Rey! In Sacramento, we need thousands of people to join us on Friday, June 8th at 12:00 noon, on the west steps of the Capital, on Friday June 8th. The following evening, Saturday, June 9th, Bishop Soto will lead a Eucharistic Procession to pray for Religious Freedom, at the conclusion of the Saturday evening vigil Mass, starting at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. Come, defend the faith, through prayer, public witness, and your vote, with the important primary election on June 5th here in California! Viva Cristo Rey!

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 5:45 PM By Maryanne Leonard
Thanks, Catherine. I hope, Cheryl, that you have been disabused of your incorrect assumption about our extreme frustration with our president due to his policies and politics as well as his countless failures and shortcomings and not his race. I’m not talking about his personal shortcomings, though I agree with Dana that he seems to be a narcissist, something of an anti-Catholic bigot, nor am I talking about his color or race, as that has nothing to do with anything that I can think of whatsoever. I am talking about his failure to better our country in any significant way as well as his negative impact on our country’s religious freedom, prosperity, and moral climate. I also have to hold responsible the legions of silly voters who bought his slogan of “change for America” without demanding that he define his vision for change and his plans to implement that change. They fell for his charismatic style, acting the role of a kind of national messiah, revving up crowds with real purty words. They liked getting to vote for a black man to prove to the world that they were not racists, convincing themselves they were actively erasing the shameful legacy we inherited from past generations of outrageous treatment of our fellow Americans of black ancestry. The unprecedented influx of mostly liberal-minded, young first-time voters was based primarily on his young vibe, youthful idealism, and a lack of intellectual consideration of the worthiness of his positions. Hitler also seduced a great nation in a precarious position by telling them what they longed to hear in an electrifying manner. Hucksters on late night TV commercials and wild-eyed preachers of weird religions have that same charisma, and lots of mesmerized people obviously fall into their traps too. An educated populace able to spot false prophets is necessary for a democracy to succeed. When will our people learn to reject the silver-tongued fox, the false messiah? The only messiah is Jesus Christ.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 6:08 PM By Maryanne Leonard
Angelo, your point is well taken about our drug addicts being a source of funding for criminal cartels and their illegal guns, used to murder anyone who stands in their way. You are right about that, absolutely. I was sorry to read that you accused Cody in Tuscon of hatred. That is not evident to me at all in his most recent post (above). I know Cody is fully capable of some head-spinning zingers, and he has taken me on as well, but honestly I see no evidence of hatred in this latest post. Can you explain that comment, or would it be best to withdraw it? I like to be slow to accuse people of hatred without solid evidence. I’m sure you know how hard it is to live up to the teachings of Jesus Christ, including his instruction to us to “Love one another.” I have been excoriated by you myself in the past, and of course I believe it was unfairly (though of course I’m prejudiced in my own favor, so you can discount that comment!), and yet I have a heartfelt Christian love for you. I think it must come from the Holy Spirit, as I am no saint, but it’s true, I do love you. I hope you will consider finding a way of reading Cody’s latest post without reading hatred into it, for the good of your own loving heart, as well as trying to help make the world a slightly better place for your being in it. I assume that your seeing hatred in his post reflects prejudice you have suffered in the past, and I would like to apologize to you and to any and all readers who have suffered prejudice from any of my race mates. I once felt shame for them and now feel pity, as I know a hating soul is a hurting soul mired in negative emotion. Let us all pray to learn better how to love one another as Jesus taught us. It is the best way to be.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 6:48 PM By Cody in Tucson
Angelo – What a gift, you can read hearts and minds. Are you referring to the 2600 guns allowed to go into Mexico under Obama’s and Holder’s Fast and Furious gun running program which included the gun used to murder the Border Patrol agent Brian Terry? Those 49 people and the other 9 had their heads, hands and feet chopped off so it would be hard to identify them. I don’t think that was done with guns from the US. Don’t you agree?

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 6:48 PM By Life Lady
As has already been said, this war is heating up and we must all be ready to stand in our armor and defend the Faith. Here’s to seeing you all on the battlefield. Armor up with the sacraments, we will all need them.

Posted Tuesday, May 15, 2012 7:26 PM By Cody in Tucson
Every cultural/political group has their method of silencing their enemies by sending messages that are meant to make the enemy compliant little boys and girls. For example in the US lawyers and the left wing media are used to shut up conservatives. It is very effective to use the legal system to bleed dry the pocket books of the enemy in order to achieve compliance. Unfortunately, whether it is 2012 or the 1920’s, other places use guns/machetes to make the enemy bleed and send out the message. Sorry, but that is the truth.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 6:55 AM By Angelo
Cody in Tucson, I implore you, please put racism aside and stick to this article. It has many thought provoking points that may change the future, In a good way or a bad way. Lets take this seriously. Please.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 10:07 AM By Maryanne Leonard
Angelo, can you explain why you perceive racism in any of our posts? Pulling the race card when it is not in anyone’s hand is a way to eliminate its power when it is appropriate to call someone on it. You need to ask yourself if you are overreacting to an imaginary foe. Let’s not get distracted into unnecessary fights over imaginary slights. Not only does it waste time and create animosities where none existed before, but more importantly, our energies are needed for the real foes of our faith. Those foes come in all colors, shapes and sizes, and some have crowned themselves President and Vice President of the United States of America, Sworn Enemies of the Highest Moral Precepts of Catholicism.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 11:51 AM By Angelo
It would be of no use to answer racists and the misalighned. calcathdaily not too long ago allowed the racist remarks of someone, when I responded it was rejected. I stand by my posts then and now. God Bless!

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 4:10 PM By Kenneth M. Fisher
Angelo, I probably have more reason to be angered toward my anglo brethren than you do, but I don’t. A great, Holy priest, once told me that it is never right to judge a whole race for what even a majority does. I used to be very angry at the fact that prejudice probably denied me my right to a very exclusive scholarship, the Uni ted States Naval Academy, but the Holy Spirit has since guided me to see how even that evil was used for a much greater good. God bless, yours in Their Hearts, Kenneth M. Fisher

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 4:49 PM By Maryanne Leonard
Angelo, my friend, if a mosquito landed on you, would you call it a racist attack? If it chose instead to land on me, would that be another example of white people receiving preferential treatment? You seem to declare everyone a racist whom you believe to be non-hispanic. Your calling many of our posts racist, without answering our requests for an explanation of how any of our comments are racist, is starting to remind me of the boy who called wolf a few too many times. When there finally was a wolf, nobody paid any attention to the boy, and that’s when all heck broke loose. I hope you will have the courage to take a good look at this and either apologize to the innocent or at least pray for relief from this seeming affliction you have developed, perhaps for very understandable reasons from your past. In your present, none of us is displaying racism toward you personally or toward your race, but soon you will be able to perceive a lack of patience with you because of these unsupported charges. I suggest you follow your own advice in your 6:55 a.m. post to “please put racism aside and stick to this article.” That applies to perceived, but non-existent, racism just as well.

Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 10:33 PM By Abeca Christian
Maryanne Leonard what an excellent point you made. I love your mosquito example! It was funny but made a great point. We can learn from humor that proves a point. I know it helps me but some refuse to see it maybe because they are prideful and set in their ways. I recall Angelo once telling Larry on another thread “You have been trying to get me to see things your way. And I will not.”. Well I get the feeling that he will refuse to understand what you mean as well. Pride can be an ugly thing, as we get older we get more prideful in the wrong way but not in the right ways.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 11:31 AM By Tracy
Cheryl, I am still looking forward to a reply from you regarding my May 15th, 1:51PM post. Is it that you have since been busy, or am I to believe that you uncharitably dropped the R-bomb and ran away?

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 2:31 PM By Dana
Yes, I did, Catherine. I think she’s one of those who hits and runs,though. Frankly, I think anyone who calls anyone a racist these days is one him or herself! I don’t think it is a relevant issue anymore, anymore than homosexuals seeing themselves as a persecuted minority because of their sexual preferences. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton make a tidy sum for showing up everytime there’s even a tiny stink from some rotting corpse of racism that died about 20 years ago…like scavenger birds with beady eyes perched on raggedy branches hoping to see even a flicker of movement. I think most people now worry more about their children becoming secular humanists and atheists than whether they might marry someone with red spots and purple skin. One of my art students (a big black fellow) accused me of being a racist back in the ’80’s and I told him I didn’t care if he was red, yellow or green he was going to act like a civilized human being in my class. At the end of the year he came in to my room an told me I was one of the best teachers he ever had. (I was all alone and I thought he might be coming in to yell at me. ha) Actually, the most blatant bigotry these days is against Catholics, wouldn’t you say? W

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 3:02 PM By k
I have no doubt that there is racism against Latinos. But at my Church, when we started to get a large Latino influx to the area, the Bishop ordered that Spanish masses be said. We protested. We said that they would set up two different cultures in the parish. We would never mingle. We wanted bilingual Masses. Nope. Now-guess what? They have their spanish Mass. We were told not to attend it unless we were Latinos because the chapel would not accomodate too many people. We never mingle and then the priests complain to us that they think we don’t want them here or to be around them. Nothing could be further from the truth. Everytime we approached a Spanish/English speaking person to try to bridge the gap, they would not help. It is sad.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 4:45 PM By JLS
Being of highland Scots, Irish, Dutch, Welsh, north German, and Danish blood, I would not be anglo … hopefully. But if I do have some anglo blood, then it would be only a portion, and thus, when Cody or Angelo might throw a haymaker at me, fairness would throttle it down a bit, right?

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 5:58 PM By Angelo
Maryanne Leonard, One of the racist remarks I was refering to was what you said not too long ago, “White woman have the right to fear Hispanics because of what Hispanics have done in the past.” You went on to justify a woman who wanted police to be called because we simply asked her a question and she then demanded that police be called as according to her we were trying to kill her. You defended her actions as you said “Because of what Hispanics have done in the past.”. I guess I only imagined a mosquito landing on me, with your remarks.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 6:20 PM By Angelo
Kenneth M. Fisher, Whatever gave you the idea that I was judging a whole race? What I wrote to Cody in Tuscon was for very good reason. You see, each time in the past on calcathdaily whenever a thread had anything to do with immigrants, Cody in Tucson would come in and attack immigrants, and I rightfuly say, non stop! I once said to Cody in Tucson, Why is it that the only time you comment on this site is when it has to do with immigration. And I have yet to see you say anything charitable about them. He was not happy with my comment. Now in light of this go back and read Cody in Tuscon’s comment of May 15, 2012 9:13 AM. I am not a racist, but if that is what some of you wish to believe, then whatever! One thing I can say on my behalf is that I hate racism in all its forms.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 8:36 PM By Angelo
Cody in Tucson, Would you please explain why you drew a parallel between the vicious murders committed by the Mexican Drug Cartels and the Mexican Cristero movement? Also am I wrong when I state that in past posts you constantly attacked Mexican immigrants and the whole Mexican Republic? And is my claim wrong that I asked you once why you posted on this site, at that time only when the threads had to do with immigrants? And that you never had anthing charitable to say about them? Actualy what you would say was contrary to Christian Charity. Do you deny this?

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 9:46 PM By Cody in Tucson
k – We used to do volunteer work at a Sunday Mass with the Spanish Mass following. After our Mass as we were cleaning up, the volunteers would start showing up for the Spanish Mass. They would walk into the sacristy and speak Spanish almost exclusively. If we asked someone if they wanted us to leave an item out for them for their Mass, they would discuss it in front of us speaking in Spanish, then look at us and say yes or no. I found this to be extremely rude and of extremely bad manners. They well knew how to speak English. After this happened a couple of times we no longer would bother to be helpful, would clean after our Mass, put everything away we had used, not speak to anyone, and then leave and go home. We no longer volunteer!

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 10:50 PM By JLS
The farmers in Washington and Oregon are losing zillions of dollars in crops at present time because they cannot find enough workers to harvest them.

Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 10:58 PM By JLS
Cody, are you serious??? Why didn’t you simply ask them what they were saying? Heck, in that type of situation I sort of elbow in and begin speaking Spanish, although my vocabulary is limited to the numbers uno up through diaz … but I through a lot of expression into it so that it makes sense … well, at least they assure me it does (when they stop laughing).

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 2:30 AM By Angelo
Cody in Tucson, Perhaps you need to try to understand Mexican culture. It was praiseworthy that you offered your assistance. The Mexican race speaks what has been termed as “Spanglish”. We speak two languages at the same time, it is not deliberate it comes natural. The Portuguese do the same, and I admire it. You say that after this natural occurence happened a couple of times, you and others were no longer generous in offering assistance. It sounds like an act of retaliation simply because you did not understand anothers culture. We must all respect the culture of others, and not retaliate against them simply because their culture is not the same as our own.

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 3:27 AM By Angelo
Now lets get back to this article. I stated it would change the future in both good ways and bad. Mexicans never read in their history books the truth about the Cristeros who battled in central Mexico and the Zapatistas to the South and the Villistas to the North. The true stories have been handed down by our Grandfathers by word of mouth. This Movie is said to be a Titanic success at the box office. The young will especialy learn who we are. With the mixture of Aztec and Spanish blood we are warriors by nature, fearless to die for what we believe in. With this knowledge I believe the end of the drug cartels may come to their ultimate end. With the knowledge this movie gives I believe the Cartels could be given an ultimatum by the people, one they will have to accept or else. The sad news is that it may reawaken the fact that the US illegaly annexed half of the Mexican Republic. I pray to Our Lady of Guadalupe that if this is revived, She avert a war and a peaceful solution be found. Gentlemen, what I state are the possibilities. Lets not ignore them, but lets take up the Rosary and ask Our Lady to obtain peace if peace is threatened. I wonder if the US government has already forseen the end of the Drug Cartels. I say this because the US Government has suddenly decided that with taxpayer money drug addicts on a large scale will now be assisted in overcoming their addictions, this means food, clothing, shelter, Medical assistance, medication ect…. No illegal drugs for drug addicts could wreak havoc on this nation. I have witnessed this in isolated cases, imagine it on a large scale.

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 7:40 AM By Angelo
k, Great Post!!! You subtly made it clear that racism certainly exists. Much to the changrin of those who fake that all I see is anti-Latino in everything. Thanks for unmasking them. I hope they don’t try to devour you again. But if they do, you well know that I don’t tolerate injustice against anyone. God grant you many Blessings!

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 10:31 AM By Catherine
k honestly posts “We protested” and then she seems mystified as to the reason why she has had quite a bit of difficulty getting along with fellow parishioners. Angelo mutually reinforces the same kind of unwelcoming behavior by saying, “Great post!” This has absolutely nothing to do with race and everything to do with acting duplicitous and getting caught by others who see through duplicitous and uncharitable actions. Since when is an uncharitable and unwelcoming protest considered subtle? It looks like Angelo and k both need to kiss some more relics in order to be enlightened as to what hurts or annoys others.

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 10:42 AM By MacDonald
California was part of Mexico LONG before it was part of the United States. Things change, but hopefully good Christian people will not let “fear of the other” infect their lives. This is what made the Nazis see Poles as inferior and worthy of slaughter; this is what made the English treat the Irish like animals; this is what made Africans viewed as ‘property’ sold to plantations in America. Even in one single culture, there can be such horrible racism: a family I know in Mexico sees itself as “superior” to others because they have “more EUROPEAN blood” and less Indian blood. As if God cares! What are we — the American Kennel Club?!?

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 11:16 AM By Tracy
Angelo, I had to jump in here when I read in your May 18, 3:27 AM post “the US illegally annexed half of the Mexican republic. As you have written this in previous threads as well, I assume that this is a rather sore spot with you. About a month ago I made a visit to the San Gabriel Mission. There is a sign posted on the grounds which gives the history of the Mission being confiscated by the Mexican government. (I forget the exact date, but, I believe it was in the mid 1830’s). It gives a lengthy list of all the valuables which were taken (well over a hundred), including cows, horses, orange trees etc. in the tens of thousands. It goes on to say that the US Congress later returned the land to the Catholic Church, although the Mission San Gabriel never recovered the goods which were stolen by the Mexican government. (By the way, Pio Pico, the last Mexican Governor of California was trying to sell the Mission itself to a friend when the US soldiers stopped him.) The natives of this Mission had been there for centuries before the Spaniards showed up, followed by the Mexican government. They became “Hispanics” and then, for a brief period, “Mexican” by default. The Mexican government most especially was no friend of theirs. (not that I am suggesting that the US government has been great in their regard). I beg you to do a little research about this issue. Now regarding the lack of knowledge about the “Cristero War” amongst most Mexicans. This is due to the fact that the Mexican government disallowed any mention of the war to be made in the history books, etc. as terms of surrender. They also used ongoing intimidation following the treaty to make sure that the citizenry obeyed. They wanted the uprising erased from the minds and hearts of all Mexicans . I’d say they were pretty successful.

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 11:42 AM By Rick DeLano
@ k Posted Thursday, May 17, 2012 3:02 PM: There’s always Latin. 1pm. St. Therese, Alhambra. We experience no such difficulties.

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 4:52 PM By Angelo
Sorry! I forgot the weekend has begun. Will be back next week when the moderator is fair.

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 5:22 PM By Tracy
Angelo, to be more clear with my 11:16 AM post. The natives I referred to were of the Tongva nation which resided in the San Gabriel Valley (long before it was named that by the Spaniards) as well as throughout many areas of Southern California. The Tongva people, whose language became extinct during the 20th century, were introduced to the Spanish language and customs by the Spanish missionaries. They were given Spanish sir names upon being Baptized by these same Missionaries. Furthermore, the Spanish missionaries renamed the Tongva people “Gabrielenos”. This is why I wrote, “They became ‘Hispanic’…… by default”. On another point, I do not accept your revisionist history when you state “the US ‘ILLEGALLY’ annexed half of the Mexican republic”.

Posted Friday, May 18, 2012 5:47 PM By Angelo
Tracy, What I said before was in no way meant to be offensive, not to you, nor to the United States of America. I only wished to point out something that is looked at by two sides. Everyone has a different opinion about this situation. Most Mexican-Americans would like things to remain as is. But there are some making it impossible. Its a situation that I myself have mixed feelings. I am proud to be Mexican American. But when I see my people trampled on, then I no longer feel proud of being a US citizen. We Mexican Americans are sort of caught in the middle. I hope you understand.