JOSE MARIA MORELOS
(José María Teclo Morelos Pérez y Pavón)
Many are surprised that the first Mexican revolutionary leaders were Catholic Priests, because the Catholic Church was always on the side of Spain and against Mexican revolutionary efforts. The church and the state were totally intertwined at the time, so the Church officials supported the government officials and vica verca. However, there were priests who saw the injustice and corruption of the colonial Spanish government, and not only sided with the revolutionists but became revolutionary leaders. These were opposed and usually excommunicated by the Church establishment authorities.
José María Teclo Morelos Pérez y Pavón (Spanish: [xoˈse maˈɾi.a ˈteklo moˈɾelos ˈpeɾes i paˈβon] (listen)) was a Mexican Roman Catholic priest and revolutionary rebel leader who led the Mexican War of Independence movement, assuming its leadership after the execution of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in 1811. Morelos and Ignacio López Rayón are credited with organizing the war of independence. Under Morelos the Congress of Anáhuac was installed on 13 September 1813, and in 6 November of the same year congress declared the country's independence. On 22 October 1814, a constitution, Decreto Constitucional para la Libertad de la América Mexicana, was drafted by the Congress which declared that Mexico would be a Republic.
