Intolerance. The word intolerance is generally understood to mean the savage passion that leads us to hate and persecute those in error. But, in order not to confuse very different things, we must distinguish between two kinds of intolerance – ecclesiastic and civil.

Ecclesiastic intolerance consists of considering as false all religions other than one's own; proclaiming it from the rooftops without being held back by terror, respect for humanity, or fear for the loss of one's life. This article will not address such heroism that has generated so many martyrs across the church’s centuries.

Civil intolerance consists in ceasing all relations, by all sorts of violent means, with those who have a way of thinking about God and his worship that is different from our own.

A few lines taken from the Holy Scriptures, the Church fathers, and Councils will suffice to show that the intolerant person , taken in this latter sense, is an evil man, a bad Christian, a dangerous subject, a poor statesman, and a bad citizen.

Before treating the matter, we should say, to the credit of our Catholic theologians, that we have found several who, according to the most respected authorities, subscribed, without the least reservation, to the following ideas.

Tertullian writes in Ad Scapulam: Humani juris et naturalis potestatis est unicuique quod putaverit, colere; nec alii obest aut prodest alterius religio, sed nec religionis est cogere religionem quoe sponte suscipi debeat, non vi; cum et hostiae ab animo lubenti expostulentur.

This is what the weak and persecuted Christians said to the idolaters who dragged them before their altars.

It is impious, even with the intention of bringing back those who previously strayed, to expose religion to the odious accusations of being tyrannical, harsh, unjust, and antisocial.

The mind can only acquiesce before that which it recognizes as true; the heart can only love that which seems good to it. Violence will turn a weak man into a hypocrite and a strong man into a martyr. Weak or brave, he will feel the injustice of persecution and resent it.

Education, persuasion, and prayer, these are the only legitimate means of spreading the faith.

Any means that provoke hate, indignation, and scorn are impious.

Any means that stir the passions and foster self-interest are impious.

Any means that loosen natural bonds and estrange fathers from children, brothers from brothers, sisters from sisters, are impious.

Any means that tend to incite men to rebel, bring nations to arms, and drench the earth with blood are impious.

It is impious to seek to coerce conscience, the universal determinant of behavior. Conscience must be enlightened, not constrained.

Men who err in good faith are to be pitied, never punished.

Neither men of good faith nor men of bad faith should be harassed, but rather left for God's judgement.

If we cease relations with those we call impious, we will cease contact with those we call miserly, indecent, ambitious, irascible, or depraved. We will advise the same for others and three or four intolerant people will suffice to tear society apart.

If we can tear out one hair from those whose opinions differ from ours, we can take the whole head, as there is no limit to injustice. Self-interest, fanaticism, circumstances, or the occasion will determine the extent of the harm done.

If an Infidel prince asked missionaries of an intolerant faith how their religion treats those who do not believe in it, they would either have to admit something odious, lie, or keep a shameful silence.

What did Christ ask of his disciples upon sending them among the nations? Was it to kill or die? Was it to persecute or suffer?

Saint Paul wrote to the Thessalonians: If someone comes to announce another Christ, to recommend another spirit, you will suffer them. Intolerant people , is this how you treat even those who announce nothing, propose nothing, preach nothing?

He further wrote: do not treat as an enemy those who do not have the same opinions as you, but warn them as a brother. Intolerant people , is that what you do?

If your opinions allow you to hate me, Why wouldn't my opinions allow me to hate you as well?

If you exclaim, "I have truth on my side," I would cry just as loudly, “it is I who have truth on my side” while adding, “what does it matter who is wrong so long as there is peace between us! If I am blind, need you strike a blind man across the face?”

If an intolerant man clearly explained his position, what corner of the earth would remain open to him and what sensible man would dare set foot in such a country?

It is written in Origen, in Minutius Felix, in the early Church fathers: Faith is a matter of persuasion and cannot be commanded. Man must be free in his choice of faith; the persecutor causes man to hate his God; the persecutor slanders his own religion. Tell me if it is ignorance or imposture that has formed these maxims?

In an intolerant state, the prince is only an executioner in the service of the clergy. The prince is the common father of his subjects; and his mission is to make them all happy.

If the mere proclamation of one law sufficed to rule harshly, there would be no tyrants.

There are circumstances in which we are equally persuaded of error as of truth. Only someone who has never pursued error in good faith can disagree with this.

If your truth outlaws me, my error, which I take to be the truth, will outlaw you.

Either cease your violence or quit blaming the Moslems and Pagans for their violence.

When you hate your brother and preach hatred toward your fellows, is it the spirit of God that inspires you?

Christ said: "my kingdom is not of this world;" and you, his disciple, want to tyrannize this world?

He said: "I am gentle and humble of heart;" are you gentle and humble of heart?

He said: "Happy are the meek, the peace-makers, and the merciful." Examine your conscience and see if you deserve this blessing; are you meek, peaceful, and merciful?

He said: " I am the lamb sent to the slaughter without complaining;" and you are ready to take the butcher's knife and slaughter the one for whom the lamb's blood was shed.

He said: "If you are persecuted, flee;" and you pursue those who let you speak freely and ask nothing more than to graze peacefully by your side.

He said: "You would have me rain fire upon your enemies: you do not know what spirit propels you;" and, intolerant one , I join Him in telling you that you know not what spirit animates you.

Listen to Saint John: "my little children, love one another."

Saint Athanasius: "If they persecute, that alone is manifest proof that they have neither piety nor fear of God. The nature of piety is not to compel but to persuade, to imitate the Savior who leaves everyone free to follow him or not. As for the Devil without truth on his side, he comes with hatchets and axes.

Saint John Chrysostom: "Jesus Christ asks his disciples if they too want to leave; because this is how a peace-maker should speak.

Salvianus: "These men are in error without knowing it. They are wrong according to us but not according to themselves. They consider themselves such good Catholics that they call us heretics. What they are to us, we are to them; they err, but in good faith. What will be their future lot? Only the great judge can know. He tolerates them in the meantime."

Saint Augustine: "Let those mistreat you who do not know how difficult it is to find truth and how hard it is to protect oneself from error. Let those mistreat you who do not know how rare and difficult it is to overcome the illusions of the flesh. Let those mistreat you who do not know how long one must sigh and groan before understanding something of God. Let those mistreat you who have not fallen into error."

Saint Hilaire: "You use constraint where only reason is necessary; you use force where only light is necessary."

The Precepts of Pope St. Clement: "Punishing men not with a temporal death but assigning them to the next world where they can account of their actions, the Savior left men the use of their free will."

The Fathers of the Council of Toledo: "Inflict no violence to bring anyone into the faith; for God grants mercy to those he wishes and hardens the heart of those he pleases."

We could fill volumes with such quotations, so forgotten by Christians of our day.

Saint Martin repented all his life for having dealings with the persecutors of heretics.

All wise men have disapproved of the violence done to the Samaritans by Justinian.

Writers who have counseled criminal laws for unbelief have always been detested.

The apologist for the revocation of the Edict of Nantes has recently been taken for a bloodthirsty man with whom one could not share a roof.

Which is humanity's path? Is it that of the persecutor who strikes others or the persecuted who complains?

If an unbelieving prince has the indisputable right to obedience from his subjects, an unbelieving subject has the uncontestable right of protection from his prince. This is a reciprocal obligation.

If the prince says that the unbeliever is unworthy of living, is it not to be feared that the subject will say that the unbelieving prince is unfit to rule. Intolerant , bloodthirsty men, see the consequences of your beliefs and shudder. Men whom I love, whatever be your feelings, it is for you that I have collected these thoughts and which I beseech you to meditate upon. Consider them and you will renounce a heinous system suited neither to uprightness of mind nor goodness of heart.

Effect your own salvation. Pray for mine and believe that anything you permit yourself beyond this is an abominable injustice in the eyes of God and men.