Alienation of Church Wealth in Mexico by Jan Bazant, Michael ... - 9780521088688

Alienation of Church Wealth in MexicoSocial and Economic Aspects of the Liberal Revolution 18561875\nAuthor(s): Jan Bazant, Michael P. Costeloe\nFormat: Paperback\nPublisher: Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom\nImprint: Cambridge University Press\nISBN-13: 9780521088688, 978-0521088688\nSynopsis\nConflict between the Roman Catholic Church and the State in Mexico became prominent soon after independence in 1821, and during the next three decades national and state governments made various attempts to reduce ecclesiastical influence in the social, economic and political life of the nation. Few of such efforts met with much success, and it was not until 1856 that a major reform was initiated. Legislation was issued which affected all spheres of clerical activity but the most vital and controversial aspect of the reform involved the measures adopted to dispossess the Church of its wealth. The extensive ecclesiastical holdings of urban and rural real estate and capital were nation.