INQUISITION

'Inquisition' (capitalised I) was a political police of the Roman Catholic Church from the Middle Ages until 19th Century, to fight so called heresy. Records indicte, that it could be anything the priests chose, not limited to religious lifestyle.
Contrary to Vatican's propaganda, its inquisition did not start in ancient Rome.

Contents

Inquisition tribunals and institutions

Historic Inquisition movements

Medieval Inquisition

Spanish Inquisition

Portuguese Inquisition

Roman Inquisition

Other uses of the word "Inquisition"

Derivative works

See also

Notes

References

Online works

External links

Inquisition tribunals and institutions

In the Middle Ages Catholic Church controlled almost every single aspect of life of a citizen. From what he eat, what profession held, whom married, how dressed, or how died. As financial power of the Church grew, so grew the need to control the society.
Before the twelfth century, the Catholic Church gradually suppressed the so called heresy, usually through a system of ecclesiastical tribunals. Initially the persecution was carried out mostly by state authorities, but the Catholic Church gradually became more active as episcopal jurisdiction grew in power. The Church's punishment included excommunication, proscription and imprisonment. Although many states allowed the Church to use the death penalty, initially it was not frequently used by the Church for logistics reasons.
In the 12th century a wide spread opposition to Church's corruption caused development throughout Europe of communities rejecting Pope's authority. Their teachings we identical to many recognized Church leaders before and after, such as St. Dominic, or St. Francis, except for recognition of the Pope.
To counter the spread of Catharism, prosecution against heresy became more frequent. Church Councils, composed of bishops and archbishops, were charged with establishing inquisitions. (see Episcopal Inquisition)
Later in the thirteenth century, the pope assigned the duty of carrying out inquisitions to the Dominican Order. Inquisitors acted in the name of the Pope and with his full authority. They used inquisitorial procedures, which was a common law practice at the time. They judged heresy alone, using the local authorities to establish a tribunal and prosecute heretics. Since the end of the fifteenth century, inquistions were headed by a Grand Inquisitor. Inquisition in this way persisted until the 19th century.^[1]
In the 16th century, Pope Paul III established the Roman Inquisition. This was a system of tribunals, ruled by the "Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Universal Inquisition", staffed by cardinals and other Church officials. In 1908 its name was changed to "Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office" by Saint Pope Pius X. This in turn was changed in 1965 to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith^[2], which persists down to today.

Historic Inquisition movements

Historians distinguish between four different manifestations of the Inquisition: the Medieval Inquisition, the Spanish Inquisition, the Portuguese Inquisition and the Roman Inquisition.
Because of its objective, combating heresy, the Inquisition had jurisdiction only over baptized members of the Church (which, however, encompassed the vast majority of the population). Non-Christians could still be tried for blasphemy by secular courts. Also, most of the witch trials were held by secular courts.

Medieval Inquisition

Main articles: Medieval Inquisition

The Medieval Inquisition is a term historians use to describe the various inquisitions that started around 1184 , including the ''Episcopal Inquisition'' (1184-1230s) and later the ''Papal Inquisition'' (1230s). It was in response to large popular movements throughout Europe considered apostate or heretical to Christianity, in particular the Cathars and Waldensians in southern France and northern Italy. These were the first inquisition movements of many that would follow.

Spanish Inquisition

Main articles: Spanish Inquisition

The Spanish Inquisition was set up by King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile in 1478 with the approval of Pope Sixtus IV. In contrast to the previous Inquisition, it operated completely under royal authority, though staffed by secular clergy and orders, and independently of the Holy See. It aimed primarily at converts from Judaism and Islam (who were still residing in Spain after the end of the Moor control of Spain), who were suspected of either continuing to adhere to their old religion (often after having been converted under duress) or having fallen back into it, and later at Protestants; in Sicily and Southern Italy, which were under Spanish rule, it targeted Greek Orthodox Christians. After religious disputes waned in the 17th century, the Spanish Inquisition more and more developed into a secret police against internal threats to the state.
The Spanish Inquisition would subsequently be employed in certain Spanish colonies such as Peru and Mexico. The Spanish Inquisition continued in the Americas until Mexican Independence and was not abolished in Europe until 1834.
One source estimates that as many as 60 million Native Americans were killed during the Spanish Inquisition, some of whom were already Christians^[3] Most experts reject this number. Estimates of how many people were living in the Americas when Columbus arrived have varied tremendously; 20th century scholarly estimates ranged from a low of 8.4 million to a high of 112.5 million persons. Given the fragmentary nature of the evidence, precise pre-Columbian population figures are impossible to obtain, and estimates are often produced by extrapolation from comparatively small bits of data. In 1976, geographer William Denevan used these various estimates to derive a "consensus count" of about 54 million people, although some recent estimates are lower than that.^[4]

Portuguese Inquisition

Main articles: Portuguese Inquisition


The Portuguese Inquisition was established in Portugal in 1536 by the King of Portugal, João III, as a Portuguese analogue of the more famous Spanish Inquisition.
Main articles: Goa Inquisition

The Goa Inquisition was the office of the Inquisition acting in the Indian city of Goa and the rest of the Portuguese empire in Asia. Established in 1560 , it was aimed primarily at wayward new converts from Hinduism.

Roman Inquisition

Main articles: Roman Inquisition

In 1542, Pope Paul III established a permanent congregation staffed with cardinals and other officials, whose task was to maintain and defend the integrity of the faith and to examine and proscribe errors and false doctrines. This body, the Congregation of the Holy Office, now called the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, part of the Roman Curia, became the supervisory body of local Inquisitions. The Pope appoints one of the cardinals to preside over the meetings. There are usually ten other cardinals on the Congregation, as well as a prelate and two assistants all chosen from the Dominican Order. The Holy Office also has an international group of consultants, experienced scholars of theology and canon law, who advise it on specific questions.
Arguably the most famous case tried by the Roman Inquisition was that of Galileo Galilei in 1633 . Because of Rome's power over the Papal States, Roman Inquisition activity continued until the mid-1800s.
In 1908 the of the Holy Office of the Inquisition was changed to 'The Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office'. In 1965 the name was changed again to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Other uses of the word "Inquisition"

Even though the last notable actions of the Inquisition occurred in the mid-1800s, the word "Inquisition" remains a part of modern vocabulary; even those with no interest in European history associate it with negative meanings.^[5] Because of the negative images associated with the Inquisition, the term has taken on a pejorative usage, and is often used to express disapproval.

★ The Literary Inquisition in Chinese history.

★ In modern American politics, United States Senate investigations are often called "Inquisitions" as a means of expressing disapproval of the investigators. For example some people call the Second Red Scare (more commonly, if less precisely, termed simply "McCarthyism") an inquisition.

★ Robert Anton Wilson's book ''The New Inquisition'' (ISBN 1-56184-002-5) is critical of the application of the Scientific Method in the 20th century.

Derivative works

The Inquisitions have been the subject of many cultural works. Some include:

★ The Spanish Inquisition was the subject of a classic Monty Python sketch ("''Nobody'' expects the Spanish Inquisition!"), referenced conspicuously in the film Sliding Doors.

★ In the Terran history of the popular computer game, ''StarCraft'', the United Powers League launches Project Purification in 2309, which is compared to the Inquistions.

★ The short story by Edgar Allan Poe, ''The Pit and the Pendulum'' was set during the Spanish Inquisition.

★ In the alternative history novel The Two Georges by Harry Turtledove and Richard Dreyfuss, the Spanish Inquisition remains active, in Spain itself and throughout Latin America, during the whole of the Twentieth Century.

★ A body known as the Inquisition exists in the fictional Warhammer 40,000 universe.

★ Mel Brooks's 1981 film The History of the World, Part I contains a musical number about the Spanish Inquisition.

★ In Terry Pratchett's ''Small Gods'', the Omnian church has a Quisition, with sub-sections Inquisition and Exquisition.

★ In J.K. Rowling's 2003 book ''Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix'', Professor Dolores Umbridge sets up an Inquisition at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, with herself as the High Inquisitor.

★ The "Dark Ages" setting in the World of Darkness (WoD) fantasy universe makes heavy use of the Inquisition as that particular setting takes place during the early 13th century.

★ The computer game "" made by the late Black Isle Studios uses the Spanish Inquisition as a key plot for the storyline and development of the game.

★ ''Man of La Mancha'' is a Broadway musical which tells the story of the classic novel ''Don Quixote'' as a play within a play, performed by prisoners as they await a hearing with the Spanish Inquisition.

★ ''Starways Congress'' is an element of the Ender-verse by Orson Scott Card. In the latter books, they play an important part in determining the fate of Lusitania. In Speaker for the Dead, Ender Wiggin threatens to become an Inquisitor and revoke the catholic licence of Lusitania, thus ruining the fragile catholic culture there.

★ ''The Fountain'' features elements of the Spanish Inquisition.

See also

★ Historical revision of the Inquisition

★ Witchhunt

★ Konrad von Marburg

★ Malleus Maleficarum

★ Inquisitorial system

★ List of Grand Inquisitors of Spain

★ Historical revisionism (political)

★ ''Histoire de l'Inquisition en France''

★ Michael Servetus

★ Vatican Secret Archives

Notes

1. http://es.geocities.com/historalia/consejo_de_inquisicion.htm
2. http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_pro_14071997_en.html
3. D.Stannard, American Holocaust, Oxford University Press 1992, p. 95
4. 20th century estimates in Thornton, p. 22
5. The Real Inquisition; Investigating the popular myth. By Thomas F. Madden

References

★ by John Foxe (Bridge-Logos Publishers) ISBN 0-88270-672-1

★ Edward Burman, ''The Inquisition: The Hammer of Heresy'' (Sutton Publishers, 2004) ISBN 0-7509-3722-X

★
★ A new edition of a book first published in 1984, a good, well-written and objective general history based on the main primary sources.

★ Edward M. Peters, ''Inquisition.'' (University of California Press, 1989). ISBN 0-520-06630-8

★
★ A brief, balanced inquiry, with an especially good section on the 'Myth of the Inquisition' (see The Inquisition Myth). This is particularly valuable because much of the history available in English of the Inquisition was written in the 19th century by Protestants interested in documenting the dangers of Catholicism or Catholic apologists demonstrating that the Inquisition had been an entirely reasonable judicial body without flaws.

★ Henry Kamen, ''The Spanish Inquisition: A Historical Revision.'' (Yale University Press, 1999). ISBN 0-300-07880-3

★
★ This revised edition of his 1965 original contributes to the understanding of the Spanish Inquisition in its local context.

★ Cecil & Irene Roth, ''A history of the Marranos'', Sepher-Hermon Press, 1974.

★ Simon Whitechapel, ''Flesh Inferno: Atrocities of Torquemada and the Spanish Inquisition'' (Creation Books, 2003). ISBN 1-84068-105-5

★ William Thomas Walsh, ''Characters of the Inquisition'' (TAN Books, 1997). ISBN 0-89555-326-0

★ Parker, Geoffrey “Some Recent Work on the Inquisition in Spain and Italy” Journal of Modern History 54:3 1982

★ Given, James B Inquisition and Medieval Society New York, Cornell University Press, 2001

★ Henry Charles Lea, ''A History of the Inquisition of Spain'' (4 volumes), (New York and London, 1906–1907).

★ J.A. Llorente, “Historia Critica de la Inquisicion de Espana”

★ W.T. Walsh, “Isabella of Spain,” (1931).

★ Genaro Garcia, “Autos de fe de la Inquisicion de Mexico,” (1910).

★ F. Garau, “La Fee Triunfante,” (1691-reprinted 1931).

★ V. Vignau, “Catalogo... de la Inquisicion de Toledo,” (1903).

★ J. Baker, “History of the Inquisition,” (1736).

★ J. Marchant, “A Review of the Bloody Tribunal,” (1770).

★ E. N Adler, “Autos de fe and the Jew,” (1908).

★ Ludovico a Paramo, “De Origine et Progressu Sanctae Inquisitionis,” (1598).

★ J.M. Marin, “Procedimientos de la Inquisicion” (2 volumes), (1886).

★ R. Cappa, “La Inquisicion Espanola,” (1888).

★ A. Paz y Mellia, “Catalogo Abreviado de Papeles de Inquisicion,” (1914).

★ M. Jouve, “Torquemada,” (1935).

★ Sir Alexandr G. Cardew, “A Short History of the Inquisition,” (1933).

★ G. G. Coulton, “The Inquisition,” (1929).

★ Ramon de Vilana Perlas, “La Verdadera Practica Apostolica de el S. Tribunal de la Inquisicion,” (1735).

★ H.B. Piazza, “A Short and True Account of the Inquisition and its Proceeding,” (1722).

★ A.L. Maycock, “The Inquisition,” (1926).

★ H. Nickerson, “The Inquisition,” (1932).

★ L. Tanon, “Histoire des Tribunaux de l’Inquisition,” (1893).

★ A. Herculano, “Historia da Origem e Estabelecimento da Inquisicao em Portugal,” (English translation, 1926).

★ Henry Kamen, ''The Spanish Inquisition: A Historical Revision.'' (1999).

★ Simon Whitechapel, ''Flesh Inferno: Atrocities of Torquemada and the Spanish Inquisition'' (Creation Books, 2003).

★ Miranda Twiss, ''The Most Evil Men And Women In History'' (Michael O'Mara Books Ltd., 2002).

★ Geoffrey Parker “Some Recent Work on the Inquisition in Spain and Italy” Journal of Modern History 54:3 1982

★ Warren H. Carroll, "Isabel: the Catholic Queen" Front Royal, Virginia, 1991 (Christendom Press)

★ Emile van der Vekene: ''Bibliotheca bibliographica historiae sanctae inquisitionis. Bibliographisches Verzeichnis des gedruckten Schrifttums zur Geschichte und Literatur der Inquisition. Vol. 1 - 3.'' Topos-Verlag, Vaduz 1982-1992, ISBN 3-289-00272-1, ISBN 3-289-00578-X (7110 titres sur le thème de l'Inquisition)

★ Emile van der Vekene: ''La Inquisición en grabados originales. Exposición realizada con fondos de la colección Emile van der Vekene de la Universidad San Pablo-CEU, Aranjuez, 4-26 de Mayo de 2005,'' Madrid: Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, 2005. ISBN 84-96144-86-0

Online works

★ Ludwig von Pastor, History of the Popes from the Close of the Middle Ages; Drawn from the Secret Archives of the Vatican and other original sources, 40 vols. St. Louis,

★ B. Herder 1898

★ Joseph de Maistre, tr. John Fletcher, ''Letters on the Spanish Inquisition'', London: Printed by W. Hughes, 1838 (composed 1815):— late defense of the Inquisition by the principal author of the Counter-Enlightenment.

★ Sister Antoinette Marie Pratt, A.M., ''The attitude of the Catholic Church towards witchcraft and the allied practices of sorcery and magic'', A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Philosophy of The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. June 1915, reprinted 1982, New York: AMS Press, ISBN 0-404-18429-4 - Google Books

External links

★ The Inquisition by Jewish Virtual Library

★ Frequently Asked Questions About the Inquisition by James Hannam

★ Books on the Inquisition

★ Catholic Encyclopedia: "Inquisition"

★ The Secret Files of The Inquistion. PBS

★ Catholic Answers: "The Inquisition"

★ The Protestant Inquisition:"Reformation" Intolerance and Persecution by Dave Armstrong

★ "The Immeasurable Curiousity of Edward Peters", p.4 as found in the Pennsylvania Gazzette, a publication of the University of Pennsylvania

★ "One Cheer for the Inquisition" online copy of the Catholic Dossier article by Gerard Bradley, Professor of Law, University of Notre Dame.

★ Spain and the Spaniard

★ Scholarly studies including Lea's History

★ Jewish Virtual Library on the Spanish Inquisition

★ Jewish Encyclopedia of 1906 on the Inquisition

★ Nobody Expects the Mosaic Inquisition! ''This Rock'', July-August 1998, by Jimmy Akin

★ Galileo Project: Christianity: Inquisition

★ Spanish Inquisition (1478-1813) (in Spanish language)

★ Index of the court proceedings and other documents of the Portuguese Inquisition (in Portuguese)

★ Clandestine Judaism in the Shadow of the Inquisition, Dr. Rivkah Shafek Lissak

★ The paths of Cathars by the philosopher Yves Maris.

★ L. D. Barnett, "Two Documents of the Inquisition", in ''The Jewish Quarterly Review'', New Ser., Vol. 15, No. 2 (Oct., 1924), pp. 213-239