Cromwell ... tolerated every sect of Christianity except Roman Catholicism.
There you have it, an intolerant
Dave
I like you, you're a good person, but it must be said: Be for real, Dave.
In the 17th century, Roman Catholicism was almost a "Religion of Peace" -- politically, it was abused by the likes of the Kings of France and the Habsburg dukes of Spain and Austria as a weapon to subjugate other Christians in the aggrandizement of their empires. The history of the Netherlands during the 17th century is just one big battle against the Catholic kings of Spain.
Cromwell knew fully well what happened to Protestant princes and peasants who lived in Austria, Hungary, France, etc., in the 16th century. Their lands were confiscated and their families murdered by the Inquisition.
Think about it: Cromwell was tolerant enough to extend freedom of worship to
Jews, who for eons suffered pogroms under the "Christ Killer" and "Blood drinker" slurs. That alone tells me Cromwell was sincere in his desire for religious liberty for
those religions that could tolerate the existence of others.
As for his Irish-murdering policy ... well, most Englishmen regardless of religion abused Ireland pretty shamelessly then. Don't forget: the policy of "planting" English settlers in the pale of Ireland began with the very Catholic Queen Mary.
Poll
