NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      VATICAN (CWNews.com) -- Leaders of Mexico's ruling party, the PRI, have taken offense at statements made by Cardinal Norberto Rivera during the visit by Pope John Paul II to Mexico last week.

      Local reports indicate that the PRI leaders thought Cardinal Rivera was criticizing them directly when he said the Mexican people had been "stricken" and "deceived" by their government. Cardinal Rivera made those comments during a Mass at a racetrack outside Mexico City during the papal visit. Since the PRI has exercised near- monopoly control of the Mexican government for the past 70 years, it seemed that the cardinal's remarks were an attack on that party's leadership.

      Mariano Alcocer Palaces, the president of the PRI, has issued a statement complaining, "It is not the function of religious leaders, from any denomination, to interfere in political affairs." Carlos Armando Biebrich, a member of the PRI national committee, agreed, saying: "Religious leaders have no reason to interfere in political matters, which concern only the state."

      The angry PRI reaction to Cardinal Rivera's remark is noteworthy in light of the long history of anti-clericalism in the Mexican regime. PRI leaders may be especially sensitive to criticism today because their party is, for the first time in recent history, facing real competition for the nation's political leadership.