Mexico is a nation with a very strong Catholic identity, yet for
over 70 years during the 20th century the Catholic Church was
actually outlawed: not allowed to own property, run schools,
convents or monasteries, have more than a certain number of
priests (and no foreign priests), nor defend itself publicly or
in the courts. It was hardly allowed to exist. According to
historian Jim Tuck, “This was not separation of church and
state: it was complete subordination of church to state”.
Following 1940, enforcement of these restrictions gradually
lessened, but it was not until 1992 that the Church was restored
as a legal entity in Mexico. During the period of the strictest
enforcement of these draconian laws beginning with the rule of
President Calles in the late 1920s, Mexicans were often
imprisoned for wearing religious items, saying “Adios” in public
(which literally means “with God”), or even questioning the
laws. Public worship was a crime punishable by hanging or firing
squad. (In fact, this week – May 21 –