The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

""302 THE FAITH OF OUR FATHERS.4. The elder sister was propagating what she believed to be the unchangeable and infallible doctrines of Jesus Christ the ; younger sister was propagating her own and her father s novel and moreor less uncertain opinions.5. While Mary had no private or personal motivesin oppressing Protestants, Elizabeth s hostility to theCatholic Church was intensified, if not instigated, byher hatred of the Pope, who had declared her illegitimate. Her legitimacy before the world dependedon the success of the new religion, which had legalized her father s divorce from Catherine.6. Hence, as Macaulay says, Mary was sincere inher religion Elizabeth was;not. Having no scrupleabout conforming to the Romish Church when conformity was necessary to her own safety, retainingto the last moment of her life a fondness for muchof the doctrine and much of the ceremonial of thatChurch, she yet subjected that Church to a persecution even more odious than the persecution withwhich her sister had harassed the Protestants.Mary .... did nothing for her religion which shewas not prepared to suffer for it. She had held itfirmly under persecution. She fully believed it tobe essential to salvation. Elizabeth, in opinion, waslittle more than half a Protestant. She had professed, when it suited her, to be wholly a Catholic. . . .What can be said in defence of a ruler who is atonce indifferent and intolerant ?l1Review of Nares Memoirs of Lord Burghley.