How we cite our quotes: (Part.Chapter.Paragraph.)
Quote #7
What was the good of confession when you loved the result of your crime? (3.1.142)
Being the only active priest left in the state, our protagonist hasn't had a chance to confess his mortal sins but he isn't sure this even matters since he's not entirely sorry for one of those sins. Even if he could speak the words of confession to another priest, he wouldn't be making a full act of contrition. Consequently, the confession wouldn't restore his relationship with God.
Quote #8
"We'll give people food instead, teach them to read, give them books. We'll see they don't suffer."
"But if they want to suffer…"
"A man may want to rape a woman. Are we to allow it because he wants to? Suffering is wrong." (3.3.55-57)
Like some other religions, Catholicism doesn't see suffering as inherently wrong. If it did, it wouldn't require fasting and abstinence during Lent. For the Lieutenant, suffering is the Big Bad, to use Buffy-speak. He's a moral absolutist when it comes to the evil of suffering. He'd probably outlaw suffering if he could.
Quote #9
"But it doesn't matter so much my being a coward—and all the rest. I can put God into a man's mouth just the same—and I can give him God's pardon. It wouldn't make any difference to that if every priest in the Church was like me." (3.3.64)
Throughout much of his ministry after the persecution began, the priest was troubled that his sinful life undermined the good he was able to do as a priest. Here, though, he recognizes that every priest will be a sinner. The piety that insists on morally pure priests is a false piety.