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La Sagrada Mexico Riot

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That February also marks the first violent action against the Catholic Church. On the 23rd, just down from the U.S. Embassy, Mexico City government agents took control of La Sagrada Familia Church, claiming that it had not complied with regulations. A riot ensued when government agents tried to take survey of the church’s inventory. When the rioting escalated, seven of the protestors were killed. In response, the government issued orders to enforce the constitution at all cost and Calles announced that the government would be inflexible. He reiterated that they would use every capability the law provided in dealing with problems that arise from the populace. This assault on the Church was considered the beginning of the Cristero Rebellion. …show more content…

The law enforced the anticlerical codes that had been previously established over fifty years ago and newly enacted by the 1917 Constitution. Lesser punishments included fines from 50 to 500 pesos and jailtime of fifteen days. With harsher castigations with steeper fines, removal from office and even years of imprisonment. The law was debated for two weeks before it was finally passed by Congress on July 2, 1926 and would begin being enforced on August 1st. When news of the law’s creation made it to Rome, that waited to see the intentions of Congress and Calles. The Vatican and the bishops were hopeful they would be able to make some type of compromise with the Mexican government. After the law was ratified Calles suffered from scrutiny from the supporters of the Catholic faith claiming that he was persecuting Catholicism. He defended this saying that all Mexican citizens were required to follow the laws and the Constitution. However, some stipulations, such as the ban on priest celibacy and monastic life, directly related to the Catholic as Protestants did not follow these religious

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