text: I can only speculate why the adult Mortara felt as he did. Yet, given the attitude towards Jews in the pre-Vatican II Church and the Church's need to justify it's action, I can only imagine the intense propaganda Mortara must have been subject to.
  
  Still, what is troubling me about your response is that, although I asked, you still continue to not explained what you think is the significance of the sentences you reference. If it troubled you that the points mentioned were being ignored, then you must think there is something significant to them. I ask what that is? 
  
  I fear not calling this a kidnapping,  citing the law as an explanation and calling it "sad" doges and dulls the horror of what happened. 
  
  I also think the poster, John P. Keenan, explained best the dangers of the kind of theology that led to justification of such a horrible act. 
  
  Pan, sometimes the Church is wrong - very, very wrong. This is one of those times. I think it is best to clearly acknowledge this.
  
  John David