Catholic Church Claims Right to Enforce Obedience
THE Catholic Times gives prominence to a report of an address on “Church and State,” in which it is stated:— “The church has the right of enforcing obedience from its children, and of chastising rebellious subjects by spiritual or bodily penalties, either for their own amendment or for the example and preservation of others.” This is a frank avowal of the methods of the Inquisition, which is just as much alive as it ever was. It is only slumbering. The church of Christ can only urge obedience to God, and can never enforce obedience. Enforced obedience is no obedience, but only hollow mockery.