The Inquisition (1231 – 1800s):
Torturing people into the loving arms of Jesus
Background: The Inquisition of medieval Europe was an investigative
and judicial system of Church courts that would be temporarily set up in an area
to wipe out heresy, other religions and witchcraft. "Mention of the
Inquisition calls to mind an institution that was in theory planned for churchly
reform; but it lives in modern memory as an instrument of terror unparalleled in
cruelty in its day....Torture was permitted by papal decree. A final punishment
could mean death by burning" (Source: Martin E. Marty, A Short History
of Christianity, 1987, p. 151).
Effective use of torture, by Nicholas Eymerich, a Grand Inquisitor of the
14th century:
"If, when he has been decently tortured, he will not confess the truth,
let other kinds of torture be laid before him, and let him be told that he must
go through all of these. If, even so, he will not [confess], then a second or third day
may be fixed to terrify him, or even in truth as a continuation of his torture
(which permitted) but not a repetition; for tortures may not be repeated unless
fresh evidence comes in against him; then indeed they may be repeated. But there
is no prohibition against the continuation" (Source: Nicolas Eymerich, Directorium
Inquisitorum, 1376).
2000 – As with the Crusades, the "apology" that was
anticipated wasn’t the one we received. Yet, the "apology" does
admit "basic human rights were violated" by Church leaders at various
times in Church history (cf., Memory and Reconciliation: The Church and the
Faults of the Past, 03/07/00, @ www.vatican.va)
