The Catholic Inquisition
The Catholic Inquisition is best defined as a crusade by the church to rid the world of heretics. However, the scope under which these measures were carried out is a testament to the power that the Catholic Church exercised over both the ruling class (kings, lords, and other nobles) in addition to the lay people and commoners.
Prior to the 11th century, the nobles had increasingly dictated church affairs, as they were making secular choices for bishops. This was important for the nobles to do because a bishop would often be the governmental administrator for a town, in addition to the “spiritual” leader.
However, the papacy began to chafe at this external interference, and more so this external exertion of power. Thus, a spirit of reform came about, spearheaded by Pope Gregory VII. He laid out assertions of power that were to be uniform across the Catholic world, with such edicts as:
The Pope alone would appoint or depose bishops
The Pope alone would have his feet kissed by princes
The Pope alone could depose emperors
None of the Popes judgments could be overturned, except by he himself
No one could judge the Pope
The Pope’s decisions were infallible
With such sweeping powers, plus the supposed “moral high-ground”, the Church now sat as equal – if not greater – to any monarchy.
As time went on, these powers evolved into a formal court – known as the Inquisition - which would serve as the means to exercise these powers against enemies of the Church. In the beginning of the 13th century, these courts could try those accused of being heretics. The accusers did not have to face the victim, thus leaving room for abuses and false accusations. Also, a confession or a denial could equally result in punishment; with the former resulting in a flogging or confiscation of property and the latter resulting in torture and/or death.
The true insight into the relationship between the church and society is that no other institution, regardless of
Prior to the 11th century, the nobles had increasingly dictated church affairs, as they were making secular choices for bishops. This was important for the nobles to do because a bishop would often be the governmental administrator for a town, in addition to the “spiritual” leader.
However, the papacy began to chafe at this external interference, and more so this external exertion of power. Thus, a spirit of reform came about, spearheaded by Pope Gregory VII. He laid out assertions of power that were to be uniform across the Catholic world, with such edicts as:
The Pope alone would appoint or depose bishops
The Pope alone would have his feet kissed by princes
The Pope alone could depose emperors
None of the Popes judgments could be overturned, except by he himself
No one could judge the Pope
The Pope’s decisions were infallible
With such sweeping powers, plus the supposed “moral high-ground”, the Church now sat as equal – if not greater – to any monarchy.
As time went on, these powers evolved into a formal court – known as the Inquisition - which would serve as the means to exercise these powers against enemies of the Church. In the beginning of the 13th century, these courts could try those accused of being heretics. The accusers did not have to face the victim, thus leaving room for abuses and false accusations. Also, a confession or a denial could equally result in punishment; with the former resulting in a flogging or confiscation of property and the latter resulting in torture and/or death.
The true insight into the relationship between the church and society is that no other institution, regardless of