Is the Inquisition a black mark on the Catholic Church?

[rinnie]

Thanks for your answers.

No it is not a black mark on the CC. God is not to be blamed for in what people do or claim to do in his name.

There is no where in the teachings in the CC that agree with what was done.

While we all have our own opinion of what was done, and what was not done, or how it was done has nothing to do with the CC.

It would be like saying is Judas a black mark on the CC. Same thing. People turn away from God, or make bad decisions, but as Jesus could not be blamed for what Judas did, he also can not be blamed for what people did in the Inquisition.

As far as I can see no Pope, Priest, etc ever claimed what was done was indeed the word of God. Unless it was said the burning at the stakes was the true word of God, and the Church taught this, we have no argument. If it was the teaching of the RCC then, it would be now.

But as it was never a teaching then, nor now.

 

[rinnie]

As always, I suggest Peters/INQUISITION and/or Kamen/SPANISH INQUISITION, for some in-depth knowledge. Peters has a couple of chapters on the evolution of the relationship between civil and church, in the growth of the Inquisitions. Very useful.

While I agree what you are saying here, could it not be said also today? Is it the fault of Christ and his Church when Priests fall from Grace and do awful things? Would it not be the same?

People who are given authority to lead the Church at times disgrace God in the Process. But to blame the CC which we as Roman Catholics see as Christ himself, which we are taught Christ and his Church are one, would disagree.

And sometimes when people are in authority what one sees as a mistake, others can see it as doing the best they could at the time.

Only God knows the heart of the people in charge at the time, and only God can judge them fairly.

No Pope nor Bishop etc. are perfect when making human decisions. And unless it is taught to be a infallible statement from them, it is not a teaching or the true word of God. I have never seen this taught to date.

But if mistakes made in the past, future and present are considered putting black spots on Christ I disagree. Christ gave us all free will. And unfortunately we all make mistakes, and the more authority we are given, the worse it can be.

 

[GKC]

While I agree what you are saying here, could it not be said also today? Is it the fault of Christ and his Church when Priests fall from Grace and do awful things? Would it not be the same?

People who are given authority to lead the Church at times disgrace God in the Process. But to blame the CC which we as Roman Catholics see as Christ himself, which we are taught Christ and his Church are one, would disagree.

And sometimes when people are in authority what one sees as a mistake, others can see it as doing the best they could at the time.

Only God knows the heart of the people in charge at the time, and only God can judge them fairly.

No Pope nor Bishop etc. are perfect when making human decisions. And unless it is taught to be a infallible statement from them, it is not a teaching or the true word of God. I have never seen this taught to date.

But if mistakes made in the past, future and present are considered putting black spots on Christ I disagree. Christ gave us all free will. And unfortunately we all make mistakes, and the more authority we are given, the worse it can be.

I am unable to settle the point definitively. It is beyond my wisdom, which is a commodity in scant supply. I try to make up the deficiency by increasing my stock of knowledge; i.e., historical knowledge of what did occur, and knowledge of the history it grew out of and the history that grew from it, in turn. Which means looking at a subject closely.

One point I occasionally make, when discussing points in the 16th century( as sometimes happens). It is difficult to blame folk who lived in the 16th (for example) century, for acting as if they lived in the 16th century. So, in general, I agree with you.

 

[Tomdstone]

There is no where in the teachings in the CC that agree with what was done…
But as it was never a teaching then, nor now.

Ad extirpandam?

 

[GKC]

Ad extirpandam?

Ad extirpanda, I think.

 

[IGotQuestions]

No it is not a black mark on the CC. God is not to be blamed for in what people do or claim to do in his name.

There is no where in the teachings in the CC that agree with what was done.

While we all have our own opinion of what was done, and what was not done, or how it was done has nothing to do with the CC.

It would be like saying is Judas a black mark on the CC. Same thing. People turn away from God, or make bad decisions, but as Jesus could not be blamed for what Judas did, he also can not be blamed for what people did in the Inquisition.

As far as I can see no Pope, Priest, etc ever claimed what was done was indeed the word of God. Unless it was said the burning at the stakes was the true word of God, and the Church taught this, we have no argument. If it was the teaching of the RCC then, it would be now.

But as it was never a teaching then, nor now.

Great insight. Thank you.