The Irish standard., 1897-02-13
Tells OF THE INQuaHON.
Father keane Throws Muck Light
. Z
on the Interesting
Subject.
DISCUSSES THE SPANISH FUTURE.
A Comprehensive History Of all
Principal Facts and
Incidents.

F'atherG Keane upon the Inquisition de-
livered last Sunday at the Church OF
the Immaculate Conception:
In Spain, where Jews were especially
numerous, a long series of canons, .regu-
lating the relations between them and
Christians, had been enacted by sue
cessive councils from the beginning.
There laws did not prohibit the pro-
fession and exercise Of their religion, but
aimed to save Christians from their
treachery. - ~s.-'..'.:
In Spain the Inquisitien in its earlier
forms and functions had fallen into dis
use after the twelfth century. But the
close of the 18th century found two pow
erful foreign races occupying the coun-
try and threatening the total extinction
OF the Spanish name and of the Cath
clio religion. The Jews had been 80
distrusted from the beginning that re-
strictiye edicts had been published
against them by Constantine, Theodo-
sius and other Christian emperors.
The TaImudic Jew, with his intense
pride Of race, and scorn and hatred OF
other nations, was difficult person to
deal with To gain the advantage of po-
sition and OF influence very many of
them simulated Christianity, made pro-
fession of its creed and got baptized.
t.>h ;,.l,n
verts determined with the aid Of the Sar-
acens of North Africa to overthrow the
government and to set up in it's place a
Western Jerusalem. They failed at
first; but it was largely through their
intrigues that in the next century, I'll,
the Saracens successfully invaded Spain.
During the carly centuries of Moorish
domination, the Jews though regarded
by the Spanish no|'ies as their prime and
implacab!a enemies, we're saved from
Spanish fury by tho Pope and clergy. In
dangerous emergencies they had way
of escape by PROCESSING themselves
Christians.
During the greater part Of the Thir-
tenth and Fourteenth centuries they
were held in high favor by kings and
grandees- to positions OF
trust, as creditors, councillors, etc, -
Their skill and prestige as physicians
gave them access to all families and to-
the closest secrets. ....'"9
Large numbers of these who pro-
fessed Christianity married into the
highest families and thus secured the
highest civit positions, attaining even
ecclesiastical dignities, and, it is said,
bishoprics.
In the meantime the Jews, both those
openly so, and none the less those
so at heart while protesting Christi
anity, were "a people apart, with no COM
munity Of interest and hardly any COM
munity of feeling with the people of the
country, but On the contrary harboring
through good and i'll fortune the one de-
Their one design--the same for which
they were in 1872 discovered plotting to
possess themselves of Gibraltar the key
of the peninsula-to erect Judaism on
the ruins of Spanish Catholicity and ma
tionality At hand, or near, and ever
ready to cooperate, were the hated
Mcors of both Spain and Africa.
In the emergency the Spanish people
no less than the rulers saw the need for
swift and decided action.
Their extinction as nation seemed
imminent. Their religion was treated
with every indignity, it's sacred mys-
teries and holy ordinances we're in-
suited, and by those who protested it,
the more effectively to abolish it.
The establishment of the inquisition
was not the result Of impetuosity. Eek
hortaton and a candid exposition of the
true principles Of Christianity" had
failed Of success.
The apostates, regarding the attempt
to convert them ais an indication of
weakness, published all imprudent LAM
pooh, teeming with rebellion and most
Glasphemously revi1ing the Christian
religion.
Nov. 1, 1878, Pope Sixtus w. granted
permission for the establishment of the
Spanish inquisition. The inquisitors
were no longer as in the old institution
the bishop OF his. representatives, nor
were they representatives Of the pope Or
appointed by him, but officials OF the
crown, appointed by it, responsible to
it and removable by it at pleasure.
It was a state tribunal, its functions
originating with the crown. and in
great measure controlled by it.
The crowns employing ecclesiastics
as instruments no more constituted It a
church tribunal than chancellor or
prime minister selected from among the
bishops would take from the office it's
secular character. The ecclesiastical
court of Inquisition was but prepara-
tory, performing much the same offices
as our grand jury, only that It took cog
nizance only of crimes connected with
religion. 1t was strictly court of equi-
ty, IT'S motto being mercy and Justice.
Before the accused was arrested there
had to liz, tho eyidnnre of flyr1aa u-ifnou