Mr. Perez

Lent began with the birth of a new Holy Apostolic Catholic Church -in Mexico. Lent came to a close with the apparent demise of a Holy Apostolic Catholic Church -in Mexico.

Its short-lived troubles produced a bit of a hero, Joaquin Perez, styled "Patriarch."

Historians might trace the beginnings of the Perez episode deep through a trail of many years. Necessarily or unnecessarily, there has always been the conflict between Mexico, the devout daughter of Rome, and Mexico, the touchily independent Nation. There have been tiffs between Vatican and Government Palace.

But this particular episode dates from the triumphant election of Calles as President -itself a symbol of two ideals: Socialism, Nationalism. Here, thought Joaquin Perez, an ex-Roman Catholic priest, was the opportunity for a new church, a nationalistic church, but nonetheless an apostolic church. With the aid of the "Knights of Guadalupe" and apparently with the approval of some of President Calles' cabinet ministers, Joaquin Perez founded the Holy Apostolic Catholic Church of Mexico. He fixed his eyes on a church edifice in Mexico City, La Soledad. With the permission of the Government,* according to some reports -without, according to others -the Knights forcibly entered this church, forcibly ejected the Roman Catholic pastor, Father Silva, proclaimed Joaquin Patriarch.

The first Sunday in Lent, mass was celebrated before great crowds. At the church steps, Patriarch Joaquin shook thousands of Mexicans by the hand, gave the needy alms, told all to "go home and tell your friends you now belong to the Holy Apostolic Catholic Church of Mexico." Some did. There was fighting for churches in Chilpancingo, Orizaba, Vera Cruz, Morelia, Tabasco. In some places, Government troops defended the Roman Catholics in the possession of their churches; in others, good Catholic (Roman) laymen came stoutly to the defense.

At La Soledad, the crisis became acute. The nationalist Mexican Church was not proving an overnight success. President Calles observed all, entered upon the scene, padlocked La Soledad. As Lent ended, Patriarch Joaquin had no church.

Apparently Mr. Perez is the hero of one lost battle; he may possibly be an ecclesiastical general at Valley Forge.

*In Mexico, all churches are the property of the Government, which grants use of them to religious organizations during good be- havior.