Chasteen explains that “In central and southern Mexico, rural society was organized around agricultural villages, and each of these around a church. Generally, the priest was a local leader and, sometimes, a petty tyrant. According to traditional Spanish law, still in force, the clergy enjoyed a broad legal exemption called a fuero, and parish priests often supported themselves by charging fees for their religious services,” (Chasteen 167). There was heavy integration between church and state, and because of this there became heavy conflict between religion and technology as well as the liberals and conservatives that these values belonged to. With political tensions rising, renowned liberals came into power such as Melchor Ocampo from Mexico, who was publicly atheistic in his religious beliefs, or Juan Alvarez, a figurehead for many after the recession of conservatism in the Mexican