Untitled - Shattering Denial

PREFACE
THERE are very few Catholic apologists who feel inclined
to boast of the annals of the Inquisition. The boldest of
them defend this institution against the attacks of modern
liberalism, as if they distrusted the force of their own
arguments. Indeed they have hardly answered the first
objection of their opponents, when they instantly en
deavor to prove that the Protestant and Rationalistic
critics of the Inquisition have themselves been guilty
of heinous crimes. "Why," they ask, "do you denounce
our Inquisition, when you are responsible for Inquisitions
of your own?"
No good can be accomplished by such a false method
of reasoning. It seems practically to admit that the
cause of the Church cannot be defended. The accusation 7
of wrong-doing made against the enemies they are trying
to reduce to silence comes back with equal force against
the friends they are trying to defend.
It does not follow that because the Inquisition of
Calvin and the French Revolutionists merits the repro
bation of mankind, the Inquisition of the Catholic Church
must needs escape all censure. On the contrary, the