Couldn't you come up with a better word than "inquisition"?

 

 

We could certainly use a more "politically correct" expression, like calling it a CAI or "Charitable Apostolic Interaction".  ;-)

 

But according to us, the problem is more complex than a simple choice of words. Let's suppose you've got a very hot wood stove, upon which is a saucepan. After a while, the saucepan will get very hot. If you replace it with another saucepan, the new once might be cool at first, but eventually it will become just as hot as the old one.

 

It's somewhat the same thing for words. So we started out with "undertakers", who became "embalmers", and afterward "morticians", and so on. The problem is that death is a gloomy reality, not that we need to change the word.

 

According to us, it's the same thing for the word "inquisition". When an institution is attacked from the inside by some of its own members, you have a gloomy reality which, by whatever name you call it, will have negative connotations.

 

Add to this bad start the fact that some bad inquisitions have occured, which are still very publicised, whereas the good inquisitions receive very little coverage. One could surmise that the "Boss of the wolves" (to use a politically correct expression!) has good reasons to make us look for solutions anywhere but in the "I" word.

 

Now, concerning the negative connotations inherent to such a word, we'd rather avoid beating around the bush. A spade is a spade, and a good inquisition is a good inquisition.

 

Concerning the exagerated media coverage given to bad inquisitions, we consider it a duty to fight against calumny. It's simply not true that all inquisitions have been bad, and history shows that many bad inquisitions were firmly condemned by the Popes.

 

Concerning the lack of "political correctness" of the word, we consider that the very root of the whole problem in Quebec is that the teachings of the Church are watered down by religious leaders who are afraid of speaking clearly. If we want to be part of the solution and not part of the problem, we have to call things by their proper names, right from the start.

 

Finally, relax. Honestly, it took us over twenty years to see the obvious solution to a very serious problem. Give yourself at least a few weeks to let the idea sink in.

 

 

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