Nogales International

AS CHURCHES ARE ALLOWED TO RE-OPEN BY YOCUPI CIO

Action Of Governor Yocupicio Is Result Of Talk With President Cardenas: Second State To Re-Open Churches

HERMOSILLO, Son., Mex., May 14 (UP) -- Almost delirious happiness swept over Sonora Tuesday as word of Gov. Roman Yocupicio's permission to reopen long-closed churches spread into the tiny villages of this border state.

The governor's announcement that the churches may reopen, which came as Mexico celebrated Mother's Day late Monday, was result of conferences he held in Mexico City recently with Pres. Lazaro Cardenas and under terms of the president's modified attitude toward the church.

When the announcement came, singing, shouting crowds danced in the streets before the famous old cathedral here, and in the towers high above the plaza, long-silent bells sang the news. Similar demonstrations occurred in Magdalena, site of another famous cathedral, and in the smaller towns. But, so slowly does news travel to the remoter districts, it will be days before the entire state learns of the governor's action.

Sonora thus became the second Mexican state to permit official reopening of the churches, closed three years ago in this state by Gov. Rodolfo Calles, son of the former "iron man" President Plutarco Elias Calles, now living in exile in San Diego, Calif. Recently under permission of Pres. Cardenas, churches in Vera Cruz were permitted to reopen.

Priests Return

State officials said priests who were exiled when the government confiscated church property and closed the churches because of alleged interference in government affairs, will be permitted to return.

Bishop Juan Navarete, head of the Sonora diocese, was understood to have returned secretly several days ago.

Governor Yocupicio, who was inaugurated last January, was understood at that time to be sympathetic toward the public's desire to have the churches reopened. His election platform, however, contained no mention of his attitude.

Confers With Cardenas

The governor, one of the most popular political figures this state ever has known, has held several conferences with Pres. Cardenas in the national capital. Presumably, they discussed the church situation among other matters, and presumably Cardenas granted Yocupicio permission to announce the reopening.

The governor, a full-blooded Mayo Indian and former general in the army, was elected to serve the unexpired portion of the term of the late Ramon Ramos, who was removed by Cardenas after a series of minor uprisings in the state in October, 1935. Gen. Jesus Gutierrez Casares was appointed to the post temporarily until an election could be held.

The most Rev. Daniel J. Gercke, bishop of the Catholic diocese of Arizona, said at Tucson "this is very delightful news" when he was informed by the United Press that Gov. Roman Yocupicio had permitted reopening of closed churches in Sonora.

The bishop praised the governor for "granting what the people have wanted for a long time."