"The Inquisition only applied to heretical self-described Catholics. The Church has never claimed jurisdiction over non-Catholics . . . "
Tell that to my Sephardic Jewish ancestors who were shipped out of Spain to the New World.
I agree it was overblown, but it is still a black mark.
You said that your church just left the ECUSA...are you a part of the Anglican Catholic Church (www.anglicancatholic.org)???
You'd rather be in Spain?;) Did they, as some did, claim to be Catholic while remaining at heart Jewish? That was, in part, one of roles of the inquisition. Were they expatriated by the Church, which didn't have the authority to do so or by the secular government which did?
I agree it was overblown, but it is still a black mark.
Mistakes were made, Lord forgive us. The Church should never be a source of suffering for the innocent.
The Jews were expelled from Spain by a decree of King Ferdinand (of and Isabella fame). The inquisition was another matter, entirely.