(The General Inquisitor turns from Senator McCollum.)
"Thank you Senator McCollum, that will be all. I do not think that there will be any need for further evidence from the Senator. We have before the Court affidavit evidence concerning the heretical beliefs espoused by Senator McCollum’s father, and there are others in this Courtroom who can speak as to the specific conspiracies hatched by Senator McCollum at his villa. Guards, please return the Senator to the Doge’s care. Kindly pass along to the Doge’s men that Senator McCollum should be afforded food and water and every other amenity that a penitent soldier of Christ could wish for.
Now, to return to Senator Sharur’s most interesting testimony. Senator Sharur, please assist me by answering these questions truthfully. Remember that you are under oath:
1. Your discussion of the heretics you have known and harbored in your lifetime is quite interesting. However, I note with some interest that your testimony failed to mention your co-accused, Senator McCollum. Senator Sharur, is it not true that on the both the night on which you were initially confronted by the Inquisition with a charge of Heresy and on the night before that, you were present at meetings at Senator McCollum’s villa?
2. What other Senators were with you at these meetings?
3. At these meetings, did Senator McCollum refer to Pope Pius V as a "monster who must be stopped"?
4. At the first of these meetings, did Senator McCollum advocate a policy of tolerance towards the followers and the teachings of Islam in any provinces that Italy might occupy in a future campaign against the hated Turk?
5. Have you yourself ever agreed to or advocated such a policy of tolerance for the Mohamaddans?
6. At the second of these meetings, did Senator McCollum advocate the passing of a Senate bill that would officially restrict the actions of the Pope, by making it an act of war between the Republic of Italy and the Vatican, should the Church in any way harrass or impede the goings on of Italian citizens.?
7. Senator. You were previously asked whether you ever advocated the removal of one or more of the Catholic Church’s spiritual leaders. You replied that you were of, and I quote, "the belief that our current Pontiff may not be the best possible man for the job. Certainly that cannot be heretical, as others were certainly voted for by the College of Cardinals." But your criticisms of Pius V have gone far beyond that, Senator, have they not? Indeed, did you not once stand before the entire Senate and categorically state "Senators, I know not how we should go about this, but we must SOMEHOW remove him from office!"? Similarly, did you not while conspiring with Senator McCollum at one of his meetings baldly state: "It is of the utmost importance that we do everything we can to stop this monster."? Senator, have you not tried to mislead this Court as far as your criticisms of the Papacy goes?
8. Senator, I previously asked you whether you had ever advocated the withdrawal of the Catholic Church from civil affairs? Your sworn testimony in response was, and I quote, "Not fully, of course, but one IS to give unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and unto God what is God's. Civil government should have first say secularly, and the Church spiritually. I do believe that the Church should play an important role in civil affairs, though. Certainly it is important for educational purposes, for keeping order, for helping the poor, etc., and I would definitely not advocate the removal of the Church from secular affairs." But, your heretical beliefs go considerably further than that, do they not? Is it not true that you have in the past stood before the Senate and said "We must at least officially sever all ties between the government and the Church, so that we are not so subject to his actions." Senator, have you not again tried to mislead this Court as to the nature of your support for this heretical idea of "Separation of Church and State"?
9. I previously asked you whether you ever sought to obtain for yourself a position of authority above that of the Catholic Church or its spiritual leaders? You replied no. But Senator, have you not in the past required your junior officers to swear allegiance to yourself, personally, in the hopes that such officers would ignore directives of the Church or General Bragadin?
10. Finally, in your testimony you referred to "some people in the Senate, I cannot recall who, [that] mentioned that they might want to kill the Pontiff." I heartily commend you for not joining in such plots, Senator. But, what are the identities of these Senators nefariously plotting to kill his Holiness? (The Inquisitor General picks up the Wallachian bone cutter, and admires it.) Is there some way that this Court can jog your memory?
We look forward to your answers."
(Kidding, this is done for statistical purposes only) I will try to place your bios on the page the first free minute I get. Thank You.
