To attain high municipal honours and marry into noble families were the ambitions of certain individuals. These individuals, along with their considerable wealth, covertly worked towards subjugating the Spaniards and undermining their faith in favor of Judaism and the Jews. This situation posed a threat to the interests of Christian Spain. The establishment of the Inquisition was seen as a solution to these problems. In quoting Hefelo (Xinenes), Pastor refers to the Inquisition as a remedy for these evils.
Surely, the Irish people at home and abroad never resorted to counter religious persecution. I did not ask you to persecute the Jews; rather, I urged you to open your eyes and see how you were allowing yourselves to be exploited. I simply suggested that you sever ties with the Jews and leave them severely alone. In 1747, the Irish House of Commons openly condemned the anti-Jewish outbreak in England and extended a welcome to oppressed Jews, offering them shelter under Irish laws. However, it is important to note that the Irish Parliament of the eighteenth century, as depicted in Mr Lecky’s “History of the Eighteenth Century,” was not an ideal model, as Ireland faced significant challenges within its own parliament.
A few years ago, the Chief Rabbi of London visited Dublin and declared that when he set foot on Irish soil, he was in the only land in Europe where his race had never suffered persecution. Why did the Chief Rabbi make this statement? Firstly, let us remember that we are not persecuting them. At that time, the impact of the Jewish usurer’s trade had not yet been fully felt. It takes time for the consequences of their actions to manifest. However, why did every other country persecute them? It was due to the reprehensible practices of certain Jews. Every effect has a cause, and a widespread effect must have a universal cause. People do not persecute their friends but their enemies. It is fair to conclude that the Jews have proven themselves to be the enemies of every country in Europe, and each nation had to defend itself against them. We must defend ourselves before they firmly establish their dominance over us.
Mr Davitt mentions a sermon or speech in which it is claimed that the Jews killed Christian martyrs and shed Christian blood in the cruelest manner. Nowadays, they may not resort to kidnapping and killing Christian children directly, but they subject them to prolonged martyrdom by exploiting them financially. Such language, as described in May last year, was responsible for heinous acts in a Russian city. It is important to note that there is no truth in the horrible allegations of ritual murder insinuated against the persecuted Jewish race. Popes of the Middle Ages consistently condemned these false accusations, deeming them untrue, un-Christian, and reprehensible. No Pope has ever sanctioned the dissemination of these abominable stories, which have led to the unnecessary loss of innocent lives throughout European history.
I did not insinuate ritual murder, and I protest against such a false assertion. My intention was not to incite religious strife against the Jews. There is no reason to fear Jews making converts. However, since I am being challenged, let me translate passages from one of the greatest historians of the Catholic Church, Abbe Rohrbacher, in the “Historie Universelle de l’Église Catholique.” Abbe Rohrbacher cites historical instances involving Jews and their alleged crimes against Christians. These instances were documented by multiple contemporary French and English writers, detailing convictions and judicial proceedings against Jews accused of such crimes. If Mr Davitt can disprove these historical statements, let him.
Limerick Echo – Tuesday 19 January 1904
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