devotion and gratitude of a filial people.

Chapter XVIII.

CHARGES OF RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION.

I. The Spanish Inquisition.

But did not the Spanish Inquisition exercise enormous cruelties against
heretics and Jews? I am not the apologist of the Spanish Inquisition, and
I have no desire to palliate or excuse the excesses into which that
tribunal may at times have fallen. From my heart I abhor and denounce
every species of violence, and injustice, and persecution of which the
Spanish Inquisition may have been guilty. And in raising my voice against
coercion for conscience' sake I am expressing not only my own sentiments,
but those of every Catholic Priest and layman in the land.

Our Catholic ancestors, for the last three hundred years, have suffered so
much for freedom of conscience that they would rise up in judgment against
us were we to become the advocates and defenders of religious persecution.
We would be a disgrace to our sires were we to trample on the principle of
liberty which they held dearer than life.

When I denounce the cruelties of the Inquisition I am not standing aloof
from the Church, but I am treading in her footprints. Bloodshed and
persecution form no part of the creed of the Catholic Church. So much does
she abhor the shedding of blood that a man becomes disqualified to serve
as a minister at her altars who, by act or counsel, voluntarily sheds the
blood of another. Before you can convict the Church of intolerance you
must first bring forward some authentic act of her Popes or Councils
sanctioning the policy of vengeance. In all my readings I have yet to find
one decree of hers advocating torture or death for conscience' sake. She
is indeed intolerant of error; but her only weapons against error are
those pointed out by St. Paul to Timothy: "Preach the word; be instant in
season, out of season; reprove, entreat; rebuke with all patience and
doctrine."(317)

But you will tell me: Were not the authors of the Inquisition children of
the Church, and did they not exercise their enormities in her name?
Granted. But I ask you: Is it just or fair to hold the Church responsible
for those acts of her children which she disowns? You do not denounce
liberty as mockery because many crimes are committed in her name; neither
do you hold a father accountable for the sins of his disobedient children.

We should also bear in mind that the Spaniards were not the