Persecution by the RCC

[Asheton]

Hey everyone,

I’m hearing claims that the Church persecuted the Jewish, that they were kicked out of France and Spain and the Church confiscated their land. They said that Jews who didn’t convert were hunted down and murdered with the implication that the Church either called for it or condoned it.

What else?

…oh yeah, the RCC also backed the Dominicans and the Jesuits in torturing and murdering millions of people over a period of 600 years.

The individual who claimed this was as vague as what I had written above, so before responding to it I asked for sources. Does anyone know what this individual is referring too. I do admit that I’m completely unfamiliar with the Churches dealings with the Jews throughout history and up until the second world war. Do you think the torture and murder claim dealt with the Inquisition (one of them) and if so any advice on answering them?

I will not respond at all until they are more specific.

 

[canne]

Sorry I don’t have an answer for you. Whoever ‘they’ are, you took the correct approach in asking for sources citing this information they said occured.Unless there is indeed a source for this claim there really is no sense in trying to refute it. I will be interested in how they respond to your request for their sources.

 

[Silvereel]

By the ‘killing millions of people over 600 years’ I suspect ‘they’ mean the Inquisition. In all, about forty thousand people were killed, and certainly not millions. This was over quite a period of time, too. Millions may have been accused, but the forty thousand killed were justly tried for the most part. There may have been some corruption in the operation, and some innocents may well have died because of it, but the Inquisistion wasn’t what many people make it out to be.

 

[KingTheoden]

Becareful of what Academia claims regarding Church history; it is fiercely anti-Catholic and as such will ‘teach’ in a very skewed manner.

The truth is that the Inquisition was, by comparison, much more humane than civil courts of the time. England, supposedly the bastion of individual freedom, was notorious for terrible abuses (particularly against Catholics).

We also have to put things into historical context. I would strongly suggest reading work by Thomas F. Madded, a true historian.

 

[Silvereel]

Yes, for instance, Queen Elizibeth (the first, I believe?) executed many, many Catholics, as did other Protestants. Generally without trial.

 

[1ke]

Hey everyone,

I’m hearing claims that the Church persecuted the Jewish, that they were kicked out of France and Spain and the Church confiscated their land. They said that Jews who didn’t convert were hunted down and murdered with the implication that the Church either called for it or condoned it.

You should probably read some of the links on the thread about the Inquisition and study up on it from good Catholic sources. This is, in part, what the person is alluding to.

It is true that at various times throughout history, various secular rulers (kings and queens, not the Church) have expelled Jews from their territories. The reasons varied, some political, some financial (confiscating property is a good way to increase the royal treasury) and some religious.

The Jews were never compelled to convert. The Inquisition applied only to Christians. However, in Spain there was a phenomenon of Jews and Muslims making false conversions for politcal gain (because Christians were at an advantage). These people were called the Conversos. They, having been baptized, were certainly subject to the Inquisition when it was discovered they were practicing their original religion in secret and had falsely converted. Some Conversos were very sincere-- including the priest who actually led the Inquisition for a time in Spain.

It’s a complicated, multi-century story. So, don’t just answer in a cursory way. Study up. Warren Carroll’s books are excellent references.

What else?

…oh yeah, the RCC also backed the Dominicans and the Jesuits in torturing and murdering millions of people over a period of 600 years.

The individual who claimed this was as vague as what I had written above, so before responding to it I asked for sources. Does anyone know what this individual is referring too. I do admit that I’m completely unfamiliar with the Churches dealings with the Jews throughout history and up until the second world war. Do you think the torture and murder claim dealt with the Inquisition (one of them) and if so any advice on answering them?

I will not respond at all until they are more specific.

Again, more misinformation related to the Inquisition. So, yes, start reading.

 

[Asheton]

Thank you everyone for the advice, the individual hasn’t responded yet so I think I’m going to start reading for now and I will let you all know what their response was (which I don’t think will take too long, the person is a fairly active poster).