Overview
La actuación del clero católico en el trágico y dolorido siglo XIX mexicano esconde un sinnúmero de respuestas para explicar la conformación de nuestro país. La jerarquía eclesiástica acaparó la riqueza durante más de tres siglos, y se coludió con militares para derrocar gobiernos como el de Juárez e instaurar tronos como los de Iturbide y Maximiliano. También se opuso al arribo de las ideas renovadoras de la Revolución francesa, rechazó con las armas el progreso y se prostituyó al utilizar el púlpito y los confesionarios a favor de sus intereses terrenales. Por si fuera poco, impidió la alfabetización de las masas y concentró la educación en los privilegiados, impidió la importación de libros con ideas contrarias a sus intereses y ejercitó la censura periodística recurriendo al secuestro y la tortura. La institución clerical esquilmó a la sociedad, excomulgó a quien jurara la Constitución de 1857 y defendió con cañones sus fueros; detentaba más del cincuenta por ciento de la propiedad inmobiliaria del país y tenía bancos, hipotecarias, policía secreta y cárceles clandestinas. Gozaba de exenciones fiscales, cobraba diezmos apoyándose en la fuerza pública y financió guerras, como la de Reforma, invitando a los feligreses a matar con indulgencia plenaria.
Francisco Martín Moreno incursiona con su prosa, tan intensa como reveladora, en el siglo XIX, para arrancarle secretos celosamente guardados a través de una novela impetuosa en la que el amor es también protagonista.
ENGLISH DESCRIPTION
The role of the Catholic clergy in the tragic and painful history of nineteenth-century Mexico offers many clues to the country’s modern-day reality. The Church hierarchy controlled Mexico’s wealth for more than three centuries and colluded with the military to oust inconvenient leaders such as Benito Juárez and install ones more favorable to their interests, including the emperors Iturbide and Maximilian. The Catholic status quo rejected the ideals of the French Revolution, violently resisted progress, and used the pulpit and confessional to serve its wealthy landowning patrons. As if that weren’t enough, it hindered literacy efforts and tried to restrict education to the privileged classes, blocked imports of objectionable books, and practiced censorship, kidnapping and torture. As an institution, it exploited Mexican society, excommunicated supporters of the liberal 1857 Constitution, and forcefully defended its privileges, which included control over fifty percent of the country’s real estate, mortgage lenders, the secret police and a network of clandestine prisons. The Church benefited from tithes and tax exemptions, using them to fund conflicts such as the War of Reform and encouraging the faithful to kill liberals with impunity.
Francisco Martín Moreno exposes these and other closely guarded secrets of Mexico’s tumultuous nineteenth century in this fascinating novel, a testament to the power of love
Francisco Martín Moreno incursiona con su prosa, tan intensa como reveladora, en el siglo XIX, para arrancarle secretos celosamente guardados a través de una novela impetuosa en la que el amor es también protagonista.
ENGLISH DESCRIPTION
The role of the Catholic clergy in the tragic and painful history of nineteenth-century Mexico offers many clues to the country’s modern-day reality. The Church hierarchy controlled Mexico’s wealth for more than three centuries and colluded with the military to oust inconvenient leaders such as Benito Juárez and install ones more favorable to their interests, including the emperors Iturbide and Maximilian. The Catholic status quo rejected the ideals of the French Revolution, violently resisted progress, and used the pulpit and confessional to serve its wealthy landowning patrons. As if that weren’t enough, it hindered literacy efforts and tried to restrict education to the privileged classes, blocked imports of objectionable books, and practiced censorship, kidnapping and torture. As an institution, it exploited Mexican society, excommunicated supporters of the liberal 1857 Constitution, and forcefully defended its privileges, which included control over fifty percent of the country’s real estate, mortgage lenders, the secret police and a network of clandestine prisons. The Church benefited from tithes and tax exemptions, using them to fund conflicts such as the War of Reform and encouraging the faithful to kill liberals with impunity.
Francisco Martín Moreno exposes these and other closely guarded secrets of Mexico’s tumultuous nineteenth century in this fascinating novel, a testament to the power of love
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