The story of the Inquisition is a part of European history that is well worth remembering for as Santanya remarked, "Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it." The abuse of power and the death, the carnage, and the destruction which followed in its wake, abuse even by those with the most noble ends, by those who claimed to be among the best of humankind, by those who should have been held in the highest regard, demonstrates the depths of mankind's inhumanity not only to other men, but with a special ferocity to women.

            As the events of the Inquisition, the Reformation, and the CounterReformation so aptly demonstrate, power attracts those who lust for power, no institution is immune from corruption brought about by people seeking power, and those who wield power, even though they may have been the most noble of individuals when they lacked power.

            We are in the midst of a great cultural war, testing whether future generations will be free to exercise their religious freedoms by worshipping a God or many gods, however that individual defines the godhead, or by acknowledging no God at all. Our forebearers fought and died for religious liberty; it is incumbent on us to preserve that liberty for ourselves and our posterity.

            As a note, no religion or philosophical system is immune to such misuse of power. Consequently, religions throughout the world have left a legacy of death, destruction, and devastation through war and unjust legal codes.

            From time to time, an article appears in the news pertaining to a misuse of power by ecclesiastics, not just Catholic or Christian ecclesiastics, but ecclesiastics of all religious traditions. As I become aware of them, I'll add links to this page to remind the reader that the same mentality that lead to the Inquisition is alive and well and awaiting an opportunity to once again reek havoc upon the world. I will ignore the state-sponsored bloodshed reeked upon others of a different faith, or even of the same faith who don't happen to subscribe to all of the religion's "official dogmas," during so many of the on-going wars and civil wars; I will concentrate on the bloodshed and torture inflicted by one individual upon another with the sanction or in the name of God.

Articles on Contemporary Church Malfeasance

Catholic Priest Charged With Making Date Rape Drug; Boston Scandal Intensifies, Feminist Majority, Feb. 15, 2002
DAs given names of 49 more priests: Cardinal says records are being combed by Stephen Kurkjian, Boston Globe, Feb 9, 2002
Irish Roman Catholic Orders Offer $110 Million to Victims of Abuse, FMF, Feb. 1, 2002
Priest Misconduct Continues, FMF, Jan 30, 2002
Diocese Issues Letter of Apology Lawsuit: The church acts to seal a record $5.2-million settlement deal in alleged sexual molestation by a priest at Santa Margarita High. By William Lobdell, LA Times, Dec. 6, 2001
Salvation Army hit with lawsuit. Claims Organization failed to protect children from sexual predator, families say. The Associated Press, December 5, 2001
Pope offers apology for sex abuse 23 countries report incidents by priests by Richard Boudreaux, Los Angeles Times, Nov. 23, 2001 (Read the fine print, the "apology" was 1 paragraph long in a 150 page document. No hint at what the Vatican might do to ensure that such acts do not happen again. Seems the Vatican needs to study the question some more. How many centuries does the Vatican need to study the problem before it comes up with a solution? Why not defrock any priest who breaks his vow of celibacy?)
More Than 100 Children Removed from (Protestant) Christian Academy Over Abuse Allegation, Associated Press, Oct. 31, 2001
Suffer The Little Children By Mary Raftery And Eoin O'Sullivan
Archbishop judged unfit for office, The Guardian (UK), Oct. 27, 2001
Priest, 81, seized in global insurance scam, by John Caniglia, Cleveland Plain Dealer, August 31, 3001
Exploited Nuns Go Unheard, Feminist Majority Foundation, March 27, 2001

Other Articles on the Inquisition

The Inquisition
          Torture

More Analysis of the Contemporary Catholic Church:

Staunch, Devote, Catholic Web Sites or Web Sites Sponsored by the Catholic Church


John Paul II Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio Ad Tuendam Fidem, by which certain norms are inserted into the Code of Canon Law and into the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. (at Memorare, a "lay apostolate, loyal to the Pope and the Magisterium, is to help Catholics rediscover the great theological, historical and devotional heritage of the Church.")
          Catholic Theological Heresy (also at Memorare)


Heresy at Our Lady's Warriors

Web Sites Sponsored by Fundamentalist Protestant Organizations


Has Roman Catholicism Changed? An Overview of Recent Canon Law by CRTA, Center for Reformed Theology and Apologetics

Web Sites Sponsored by Church-State Separationists


An Emerging New Catholic Right by The Public Eye

Web Sites Sponsored by Other Groups


Clergy Sexual Abuse In Australia
          Good Books