The vestments worn by the priesthood while celebrating high mass are very costly, and consist of silken robes heavily embroidered with gold and silver thread. When appearing in the street the priests usually wear the ordinary cloth gown and cloak. It is, however, forbidden by law in some parts of the country, e. g. , in the Federal District, for the clergy to walk the streets in the garb of their order.
As regards the power of the Church in Mexico at the present day, it may be said that it is almost entirely lost, except in a few States like Michoacan. The politicians, however, make extravagant promises to the clergy, in the hope of securing their good graces in the elections. In the northern States the priesthood are becoming less influential from day to day.
Flag-staffs have been erected on the façades of the principal churches, from which the national colors are displayed. In the City of Mexico the ringing of bells is restricted by statute to the period of three minutes at one time; and the space of one half hour must elapse before they can be again sounded.
The hold of the Catholic clergy on the Mexican people is confined principally to the laboring classes. It is a common saying that, when a peon earns two dollars, he gives one dollar and forty-five cents to the priest, spends fifty cents for pulque, and supports his family on the remainder.
Among the more highly educated classes, the men are indifferent to religion, and oftentimes refuse to allow their wives and daughters to visit the confessional. They charge that the priest learns the pecuniary condition of the pater-familias through the female members of the household. In 1882 the clergy in the Republic were estimated to number ten thousand.
Notwithstanding the comparatively long period in which the Liberals have been in power in Mexico, the hostility between the Catholics and Protestants is as intense as ever.
