How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph.)
Quote #4
"Renounce your faith," she explained, using the words of her European history. "He said, "It's impossible. There's no way. I'm a priest. It's out of my power." (1.3.125-6)
The priest doesn't hesitate to hide his identity to deceive the government soldiers and police, but he flat out refuses to renounce his faith as a deception. Does he see a moral difference between these two lies? Do we ever get a clear sense of where he draws the line? What wouldn't the priest lie about to keep his identity secret? And most importantly—will he be on Santa's naughty list this Christmas?
Quote #5
He was the only priest the children could remember: it was from him they would take their ideas of the faith. (2.1.51)
The priest knows he's not a holy man, but a man of vice whose sinful behavior teaches more than his saintly words. He makes his faith seem like a lie, but he's the only one who can speak with authority on its truth. Nelly and Kelly might call this a dilemma.
Quote #6
For a matter of seconds he felt an immense satisfaction that he could talk of suffering to them now without hypocrisy—it is hard for the sleek and well-fed priest to praise poverty. (2.1.95)
It was this sort of hypocrisy that inspired the lieutenant to purge the state of priests, but in effect the lieutenant has made them more sincere witnesses. Under oppression, the priests have to live poor and under the threat of death—just like Jesus and many of the early Christians.