[dennisw]

And while it is true that crimes have been perpetrated against the Jews on the part of some who have called themselves Christians, the Church itself has never sought to delegitimize Judaism in any way nor to preach anti-Semitism.

Is "the Church" the Roman Catholic Church? It has not preached anti Semitism at any time during the last 2000 years? What was the Inquisition? A mirage?

 

[ultima ratio]

First, the Church had a moderating effect on the Spanish Inquisition--but the inquisitors were appointed by Isabella and Ferdinand.

Second, the expulsion of all Jews from Spain by Torquemada was followed by the expulsion of all Muslims. Jews were not singled out just for being Jews. The issue was religious, not ethnic. In addition, unorthodox Christians suffered just as much.

Third, the charges against the Inquisition are overblown. Modern scholars have determined that in 350 years only about 4000 people perished, an average of about 4 people per year. (According to Will Durant.)

Fourth, because of the Inquisition, Spain never suffered the religious warfare experienced by the rest of Europe--conflicts which took hundreds of thousands of lives.