On Tuesday, the international
agency "Fides" published an interview with Manuel Gomez, director
of the Mexican Institute of Christian Social Doctrine, who
stated: "The election of President Vicente Fox might allow the
implementation of a package of reforms in regard to full
religious liberty and relations between the State and Church."
"Now, after 150 years of lack of recognition, President-elect
Vicente Fox's proposal opens a new vision of hope," Gomez told
"Fides."
According to "Fides," although the Church was recognized
officially 9 years ago, it is still subjected to "many
restrictions": for example, there is no freedom of education,
manifestation, or use of the media by Churches.
During his electoral campaign, Fox promised that, if he won the
elections, he would be committed to foster religious liberty and
the family. Today "Fides" listed the electoral proposals made by
Fox, who will assume office on December 1.
1. To promote respect for life from conception until natural
death.
2. To support family unity.
3. To respect parents' right to educate their children.
4. To promote free access to spiritual and religious assistance
in hospitals, prisons, and health centers.
5. To respond to the Churches' right to greater areas of
religious liberty (stemming from Article 24 of the Constitution).
6. To adhere to international law and international agreements
signed by Mexico, eliminating restrictions on religious freedom
present in Article 130 of the Constitution.
7. To allow Churches to make use of the media to spread their
ideas and support their activities.
8. To promote a fiscal program for Churches that will allow for a
reduction in taxes, when they contribute to human development.
9. To permit entry and residence in the country to Churches'
ministers of worship.
10. To promote parity in ecclesiastical studies in the civil
realm, respecting the programs and contents of the subjects
proposed by seminaries and institutes of religious formation.
Fox presented these proposals in an electoral document published
on April 27, 2000.
The life of the Church in Mexico has been complicated during this
century, "Fides" states. Inspired in Socialist and Freemason
ideas, the 1917 Constitution denied all kinds of civil rights to
priests, men and women religious, and seminarians. It denied
freedom of education, manifestation, press and political
expression to Christians.
These restrictions resulted in the "Cristero War" of 1926. Since
1929, although the law has not been applied literally, the Church
has had not juridical status in Mexico, and no diplomatic
relations with the Vatican.
The situation began to change in 1991, with a project for the
country's modernization, which included legal recognition of
Churches. Although certain restrictions continue to be enforced,
at present the law grants greater freedom of activity to the
various religious confessions.
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