The Movement that Sinned Twice: The Cristero War and Mexican Collective Memory

Authors

• Consuelo S. Moreno, CSUSB

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Many scattered occurrences in Mexico bring to memory the 1926-1929 Cristero War, the contentious armed struggle between the revolutionary government and the Catholic Church. After the conflict ceased, the Cristeros and their legacy did not become part of Mexico’s national identity. This article explores the factors why this war became a distant memory rather than a part of Mexico’s history. Dissipation of Cristero groups and organizations, revolutionary social reforms in the 1930s, and the intricate relationship between the state and Church after 1929 promoted a silence surrounding this historical event. Decades later, a surge in Cristero literature led to the identification of notable Cristero figures in the 1990s and early 2000s. However, these occurrences continue to be scarce, and nonetheless, continue to create controversy in Mexican society.

Recommended Citation

Moreno, Consuelo S. (2020) "The Movement that Sinned Twice: The Cristero War and Mexican Collective Memory," History in the Making: Vol. 13, Article 5.
Available at: https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/history-in-the-making/vol13/iss1/5