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by Fred C. Wilson III
June 16, 2012
“The religious enslavement puts in chain and weakens the spirit and makes it unable to noble enterprises.”
-U.S. President James Madison-
“Unbelievable! Dear that was some movie; and to think it all took place in Mexico; how horrible. Mexico’s on the Texas border near my Cousin Roy’s ranch. That scares me.” The woman was visibly shaken. She urged her husband to leave just as the final credits were starting to roll across the wide screen in the darkened theatre.
“Not only that but it all took place in the mid- 1920’s. It wasn’t in Soviet Russia but on our border. Honey look on the bright side; none of that can ever happen here. This is America for heaven sakes; the good old U.S. of A not North Korea, China, Vietnam or one of them’ whacko Muslim countries but America. Mexico…who’d a thunk’ it,” the man laughed as he escorted his wife towards the elevator.
“But still it’s very frightening,” She sipped the last of her large Diet Coke. She dumped the icy remnants in a circular container near the exit.
“Enough with the worryin,’ alright? This is the United States not Mexico during the Jazz Age. Stuff like that just don’t happen here; not in this country.”
“Are you sure about that dear?”
“Honeybuns take it from me that just can’t happen here. Can you feature dead bodies dangling from light polls along State Street or priests getting shot in front of Holy Name? Quit yer’ worryin.’ Come mon’ let’s go for some Mexican food. I’m starved-you?” The couple left the movie house. A minute later they entered a local Mexican restaurant a few doors down from the theatre.
For Greater Glory is a story about a war most people rarely hear about. The 1920’s Cristero War happened in Mexico. Like all wars the Mexican insurrection was brutish, violent, nasty, and bloody. According to my research both sides were equally vicious. Rape, torture, murder, summary executions, and pillaging were the order of the day. In addition to the theatrical bloodletting this movie asks the essential questions of what’s your price for freedom religious and otherwise plus what price are you willing to pay for it.
The movie based on the Cristero War stars Hollywood big names Andy Garcia, who plays Cristero General Gorostieta a retired military who’s fought against some pretty tough hombres in his time. All he wants is peace and quiet for his wife, played by Eva Longoria of ‘Desperate Housewive’s’ fame, and family. In quick time he abandons his neutrality and assumes command of an untrained rebel army. With Gorostieta at the helm, his motley crew of rag-tag individualists soon becomes a highly trained and disciplined force to be reckoned with.
On the battlefield the general routinely route all Federale (government troops) sent against him. This movie has more than enough gore to go around. Federal forces rape, kill, sack, and burn villages. They dot the countryside with rotting rebel corpses strung up on telephone poles. Cristeros in turn torch trains roast scores of government troops. They ambush enemy patrols, plunder gold to purchase weapons and other supplies. In retaliation Federales hang priests, sack churches, and do all sorts of wicked things against Catholics and their sympathizers. In the true spirit of tit-for-tat sacrilegious enemy forces are in turned hanged, spat upon, and mistreated in ways only 12th century minds can truly appreciate. The movie is as violent as Mexico is beautiful. Reader before you continue, stop and go to: For Greater Glory Trailer-Video Results to see for yourself.
As the movie progresses both sides intensify their efforts to destroy each other. After much carnage General Gorostieta and Calles the architect of the persecution face off. Both men go mano y mano (head to head) in a vain attempt to terminate hostilities to their advantage. Before the war both were allies’ militarily plus personal friends. I read somewhere that President Calles had daily Mass celebrated in his home chapel for his devoutly Catholic wife during that war.
I find President Calles an interesting individual. This guy and many of his political crony’s handed out business cards worded: Personal Enemy of GOD! Calles ruled Mexico from 1924-1928. He was the power behind the throne to later presidents until 1934. Calles an early fan of Adolf Hitler sent his ‘Gold Shirts’ (private army) to harass communists, Jews, and Asians. Calles has a copy of Mein Kampf in his room when he was arrested. He was unceremoniously removed from office on charges of corruption. Once ousted his enemies dumped him across the U.S. border on April 9, 1936.
In time this devout fascist was permitted to return to Mexico where he lived out the rest of his life quietly. He lived to see successive presidents overturn his proscriptive degrees against the Catholic Church. To learn more about this interesting character and about events that led to the Cristero revolt go to: www.mexconnext.com, Cristero War, Plutarco Elias Calles: crusader in reverse, and President Calles of Mexico-Image Results. The above mentioned sites are treasure troves of vintage photos and personal histories about this tyrant.
What prompted the war between Catholic-Christianity and the civil government? Corruption on the part of certain hierarchal elements within the Catholic Church as I’ll explain later and the prevailing anti-Catholic sentiments of late 19th and early 20th century Free Masonry. On May 28th, 1926 the head of the Scottish Rite Masons in Mexico awarded Calles a medal of merit for actions taken against Catholics!
What prompted so many influential Mexicans of those times to develop their rabid hatred of Catholicism? Corruption and greed within the clerical ranks of the Church was a prime cause. In the years before Vatican II the Church had a broad base of lay support. At the onset of the 20th century the Mexican church controlled thousands of acres of some of the richest lands. The Church had enormous influence over civil government, education, business, and enacted what many considered undo influence way beyond her spiritual boundaries. Tired of what they considered as excessive clerical interference, the Masonic dominated civil government decided to take drastic measures albeit draconian ones against the Catholic Church.
The remainder of this excellent movie centers on pitched battles between Christian and Federale forces, examples of individual/collective heroism, brutality, and heroic holiness. I endorse this movie and suggest that you see it soon. I’ve been informed that the Hollywood secular elite are at work to insure that For Greater Glory will have a limited run.
In part two we’ll discuss how aggressive secularization has rendered America susceptible to religious persecution. Mega Scene’s Philippine Adventures will tell you, the reader, how you can counter and reverse the secularist tide that’s leading this country to revolt against GOD and the Christian Church; peace and all things good. (vamaxwell@yahoo.com)