The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1907-01-25

the ecclesiastical power fell the duty
of ascertaining the crime. TO the other
that OF inflicting the penalty.
The principal aim OF the inquisltion
was the preservation OF the faith by
the detection and condemnation of
heresy But here we must bear In
mind one important distinction as to
the manner in which that tribunal was
TO deal with 1t. If there was question
of heresy, that contained no principle
at variance with morals, and was
moreover professed without tumult or
violence to the established rights OF
civil society, in other words, IL the
heretical doctrine was secret and in
terror, the records OF the world can be
challenged to produce a single Instance
of intolerance on the part of the Ca
tholic Church. In such case the
Church, which does not Judge of In
terror things-Ecclesia non judicat de
internis-left men TO their own re-
sponsibility before God, their omnis-
cient Supreme Judge But on the other
hand, whenever there was question of
heresy, that did contain or, at least,
implied principles at variance with
good morals and the established order
of civil society, then, we freely admit,
the Catholic Church was intolerant for
she. the guardian of faith. morality and
public peace, could not betray the
trust confided by her divine Founder to
her keeping for the welfare of man.
kind.
The very nature of things called for
the Intervention of ecclesiastical
judges, for they alone were competent
to judge of matters of faith. and to
discriminate between the Catholic and
heretical doctrines. Those who find
fault with this plan as carried out In
Catholic Spain are compelled by the
logic of facts to admit one or other of
the following erroneous propositions:
"a That the state, whose citizens In
an overwhelming majority, profess the
same Catholic faith, should profess no
religion whatever, and consequently be
atheistic.
(2) That such state may not con-
scientiously profess the Catholic reli-
gion.
(3) That If it were to adopt Catholi-
cism as the state religion. it could not
conscientiously protect it.
D That, when 1t should happen to
defend the adopted faith against its as
sailants, the settlement of religious
matters in dispute could be left to in
competent judges.
1t is plain that this last proceeding
would be in direct opposition to the
judicial practice of all civilizations,
whose courts of justice are wont to
base their judgment, in some special
cases, on the testimony of professional
experts in matters Of science and art.
AS the old saying has it, "Credendum
est in arte peritis."
This Ecclesiastical Inquisition always
had for its purpose to preserve the
Catholic people from the poison OF
heresy, and the state from the revolts,
which were its usual consequence. The
duty of the Inquisitor was generally
confided to legates or delegates, among
whom were distinguished in the first
rank the Sons of st. Dominic, but only
from the year 1928, that is to say,
twelve years after the death of their
founder, which does not prevent the
enemies of the Church from transform
Ing this Saint into a Grand Inquisitor
Instituted by the mother of all the
Churches. successfully introduced into
nearly all the parts of the Christian
world. the Ecclesiastical Inquisition
was undoubtedly the work of the Rom
an Pontiffs, who never regretted hav-
ing established 1t.
Quite different was the Spanish In
QUESTION, founded by Ferdinand and
Isabella In 14S1, to preserve, with the
Christian faith, the Spanish nation
from the conspiracies of the Jews and
Moors. who feigned to be Christians in
order to carry out their wicked designs
against the Church as well as against
the State. In this tribunal there exist
ed two distinct jurisdictions, one Of
which depended upon the Church, the
other upon the State. But in Spain
the civil power had SO great a pre-
ponderance that many historians,
though far from favorable to Catholi-
cism, consider the Spanish Inqaisition
as more political than . religious In
stitution.
We admit that Sixtus ". did ap-
prove the first project of the Spanish
Inquisition, and that he sanctioned its
fundamental statute. 1t was from the
Holy See the Ecclesiastical Inquisitors
received their Jurisdiction and all their
spiritual power. The King, however,
had obtained from the Pope the power
to nominate them for the office.
In this connection 1t is we'll to re-
who were the chief and first |
movers for its establishment The peo-
Pile and the Cortes or Parliament, de-
manded it from the King as the only |
remedy to the desperate political
evils of their unhappy country teeming
with conspirators against the throne,
Is well as against the altar. And 1t |
vas precisely in compliance with such |
Urgent petitions that Ferdinand and
ISABELLA earnestly solicited it from the
Roman Pontiff. AS a matter of fact
me inquisition has never been estab-
ished in any country without the ac-
ual connivance and consent OF It's tenn
oral rulers.
All discussion concerning the indui-
inion may be reduced to the two fol
owing questions, which are altogether
istinct from each other:
1. Was the institution OF this trib-
nal legitimate In principle; in other ,
'onds. was 1t In accordance with right ,
nd Justice?
. Were the proceedings of the In
as We know them through
sliab1e history. deserving of the con-
with which they are stigma
zed. and can they be made a subject
reprOach against the Church?
We must not forget that In all this v