"Progress might have been all right once, but it has gone on too long." ~Ogden Nash

"NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition!"

A recent Haaritz article entitled Vatican rejects criticism of new prayer for Jewish conversion reported that "[t]he Vatican had come under fire from Jewish groups in recent days for changing its Good Friday service to include a prayer urging God to let Jews 'recognize Jesus Christ as savior of all men.'" By inserting this prayer into the Roman Catholic liturgy, Pope Benedict has simultaneously revealed his belief that Christians own the truth and taken a giant leap back to the 15th century.

Cardinal Ximinez: NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless efficiency.... Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency...and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... Our *four*...no... *Amongst* our weapons.... Amongst our weaponry...are such elements as fear, surprise.... I'll come in again.
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The Spanish Inquisition
by Monty Python

Everyone has the right to pray as they see fit, but for what people pray reveals who they truly are and what they truly believe—in their hearts. What does this say about the Vatican's commitment to interfaith respect and dialog? This is right up there with the article Vatican "dispels Inquisition myths" as reported by the BBC, which stated, "[Th]e book's editor, Professor Agostino Borromeo, claims that in Spain only 1.8% of those investigated by the notorious Spanish Inquisition were killed." An old Yiddish proverb says, "A half truth is a whole lie." Read the article. It would be laughable if it weren't true.