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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 29, No. 1. 1966.

Modern Inquisition

Modern Inquisition

Madalyn was also unfortunate enough to live in Baltimore.

As one reporter stated, "Imagine Spain, in the days of the Inquisition, transferred within our borders. Maryland is named for the Virgin Mary; it was founded by Catholics; it is predominantly Catholic: 17 per cent of all property in the State belongs to the Catholic Church, which pays no taxes on it. Maryland is the only State in the Union that demands a religious qualification for judges, a religious qualification for jurors and a religious qualification for witnesses. Madalyn Murry literally could not testify in her own behalf in any trial there.

In Our Form of western democracy, the constitutions or bills of rights, usually guarantee an individual freedom of religion.

But what of the other side? Should not an individual also be guaranteed freedom from religion?

Is one allowed to be as rabidly anti-Christian, as many Christians are fanatically anti-atheist?

Can an atheist or even agnostic protect himself from the self-righteous Christian, who associates atheism with Communism, sexual perversion and complete lack of morals?

Madalyn finally won her case in the Supreme Court, and prayers were abandoned in all public schools.

After winning her case. Madalyn then filed suit to tax the churches. In Baltimore alone, the Catholic Church stands to lose millions of dollars if she wins, and the nation-wide tally would be astronomical.

Most lawyers expect her to win finally, though it will take years and it will be the greatest blow to organised religion ever suffered in America.

Maryland and especially Baltimore are a part of the South. It has been said a man could be lynched in two minutes if the right demagogues aroused a crowd. A celebrated lynching in Baltimore not long ago ended with the man's ears and toes being hacked off.