The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION. 287vocated the most merciless doctrine towards theJews. According to his apologist Seckendorf, theGerman Reformer said that their synagogues oughtto be destroyed, their houses pulled down, theirOld Testaprayer-books, and even the books of thement, to be taken from them. Their rabbis oughtto be forbidden to teach, and be compelled to gaintheir livelihood by hard labor.It should also be borne in mind that Henry VIII."and his successors for many generations, inflictedfines, imprisonment, and death on thousands of theirsubjects for denying the spiritual supremacy of thetemporal sovereign. This galling Inquisition lastedfor nearly three hundred years, and the severityof its decrees scarcelyfinds a parallelin the Spanish Inquisition. Prescott avows that the administration of Elizabeth was not a whit less despotic,and scarcely less sanguinary than that of Isabella."1The clergy of Ireland, under Cromwell, were ordered,under pain of death, to quit their country, and theological students were obliged to pursue their studiesin foreign seminaries. AnyPriest who dared to return to his native country forfeited his life. Whoever harbored a Priest suffered death, and those whoknew his hiding-place, and did not reveal it to theInquisitors, had both their ears cut off.At this very moment, not only in England, but inIreland, Scotland, and Holland, Protestants are worshiping in some of the churches erected by theFerdinand and Isabella, Vol. III., p. 202.