According to Michael Goldfarb, the Mortara controversy provided "an embarrassing example of just how out of touch with modern times the Church was", and demonstrated that "Pope Pius IX was incapable of bringing the Church into the modern era".
Menurut Michael Goldfarb, kontroversi Mortara memberi "sebuah contoh tentang bagaimana Gereja menyentuh masa modern" dan menunjukkan bahwa "Paus Pius IX tak dapat membawa Gereja ke dalam era modern".