You base your condemnation of the Catholic Church on the following statement:

>>But the American-born cleric argues that these methods of suppressing heresy were explicable in the context of the times, when people believed passionately in heaven and hell.<<

The problem is partly because you think that I am condemning the Catholic Church and you appear to be programmed into an automatic defence. But what you are telling me is your organised religion' positions on the Inqusition is NOT what the Vatican spokesperson is NOW saying it is. But you still seem to think that you must excuse and defend it and argue with me rather than with the Vatican.

But I feel there are two issues arising from this statement.

One is the terrible methods like torture etc - (and I accept such things were was going on everywhere at that time) - and which the Vatican spokesperson accepts were 'mistakes'.

Two is the 'suppressing of heresy' - which the vatican spokesperson states were 'explicable in the context of the times, when people believed passionately in heaven and hell'.

It is probably the latter that I have most problems with and I suspect - if you were to be honest - would you. You may not be confused or unhappy about what is your organised religion's position NOW on the suppression of heresy - but I think it would be fair to say that others may be.

But there is a basic confusion. Organised reigion implies a common approach and generally accepted tenets - a well-trodden path for all its members to be happy to walk down.

If an organised religion (mainly it would appear for its survival) presents a path with many branches for it members to pick, choose and argue about - can it still be thought of and fuction as an organised religion?

Why does the Catholic religion in particular survive and be supported in a time when no one appears believe in what the Vatican is now saying nor passionately believes in heaven and hell? When this belief is what this whole organised religion is founded on and still maintains its grip on its members by - which is the fear of hell and the promise of heaven and in that order?

Why stay under a patched-up old umbrella that plainly neither keeps you dry enough or keeps enough sun off you?