In some sort, these actions can also be seen as inquisition.

Marc,

I fear we drift too far off topic.

However, your point is well taken. The institution lives on in a changed form. In the U.S., the Protestant Evangelicals and the Roman Catholic Bishops have joined forces to instill their theologic ideas into the civil law.

I opine that the difference is that in the period of this forum's discussion, the "Inquisition" as a separate institution of the RC church which none-the-less exercised civil authority, was falling into disrepute. In Spain, it served the monarchy as the civil arm of censorship.

Napoleon is castigated for his control of the press. Yet who else did not have an official censor who could close down newspapers and prohibit books? It is famous that books were "banned in Boston" through a good part of the 20th century. Naturally that made them sell very well elsewhere.

When I ask Europeans and Americans, "How did Voltaire become concerned with Jean Calas, and why is [was] this an important event in the history of freedom of religion?" -- the most frequent answer from even the educated and well read is, "who the hell is Jean Calas?"

Why flog Napoleon's warts and graces when not very much has changed since then?

Very best regards, BaldJim