TheInquisition...

TheInquisition:Itisamostmisunderstoodterm,ofwhichpersecutorsoftheChurchthatJesus Christfoundedliketobringupallthetime.Itwouldbebetterifthesedetractorswouldfirstcheck theirfacts,andgetthemstraightbeforemakingtheiraccusations.Iintendtoshowthissubjecttobe Biblical,andsobeforeIbegin,IaskalldetractorswholoveGOD,andwhoclaimtofollowwhatHoly Scriptureteaches,toopentheirBiblesandpleaseread, Acts9:4,1Cor10:32,1Cor11:22,1Cor15:9,Gal1:13,Gal1:23,Gal4:29,Eph3:8,1Tim1:13. Inquisition,whatdoesthewordmean? Hereishowonedictionarydefinesit. 1.Itistheactofinquiringintoamatter;aninvestigation. 2.AtribunalformerlyheldintheRomanCatholicChurchanddirectedatthesuppressionofheresy. Anyonefoundguiltyofheresywascalleda'Heretic'. ArethereBiblicalprecedentsforInquisitionsdesignedtorootoutheresy? Therecertainlyare: Ex32:135,ThisisthestoryofMosesandtheGoldenCalfincident.Iwillparaphraseinsteadof recountingthislengthystory.Mosescamedownfromthemountainwiththestonetablets(15)and foundthathispeoplehadmadeforthemselvesaGoldenCalfandtheywereworshipingit(19).They hadbecomeHeretics.MosesaskedwhowasstillloyaltotheLordandtheLevitesresponded(26). ThenMosescommandedtheLevitestoslaytheoneswhowerenotloyaltotheLord,andtheydid (2729).ThischapterisaclearmessagetoferretoutHereticsfromthemidstofbelievers. Deut13:512,"TheLord,yourGOD,shallyoufollow,andHimshallyoufear;Hiscommandmentshall youobserve,andHisvoiceshallyouheed,servingHimandholdingfasttoHimalone.Butthat prophetordreamershallbeputtodeath,because,inordertoleadyouastrayfromthewaywhich theLord,yourGOD,hasdirectedyoutotake,hehaspreachedapostasyfromtheLord,yourGOD, whobroughtyououtofthelandofEgyptandransomedyoufromthatplaceofslavery.Thusshall youpurgetheevilfromyourmidst.Ifyourownfullbrother,oryoursonordaughter,oryour belovedwife,oryourintimatefriend,enticesyousecretlytoserveothergods,whomyouandyour fathershavenotknown,godsofanyothernation,nearathandorfaraway,fromoneendofthe earthtotheother:donotyieldtohimorlistentohim,norlookwithpityuponhim,tospareor

shieldhim,butkillhim.Yourhandshallbethefirstraisedtoslayhim;therestofthepeopleshall joininwithyou.Youshallstonehimtodeath,becausehesoughttoleadyouastrayfromtheLord, yourGOD,whobroughtyououtofthelandofEgypt,thatplaceofslavery.AndallIsrael,hearingof it,shallfearandneveragaindosuchevilasthisinyourmidst." Deut13:1316,"IfanyofthecitieswhichtheLord,yourGOD,givesyoutodwellin,youhearitsaid thatcertainscoundrelshavesprungupamongyouandhaveledastraytheinhabitantsoftheircity toserveothergodswhomyouhavenotknown,youmustinquirecarefullyintothematterand investigateitthoroughly.Ifyoufindthatitistrueandanestablishedfactthatthisabominationhas beencommittedinyourmidst,youshallputtheinhabitantsofthatcitytothesword,doomingthe cityandalllifethatisinit,evenitscattletothesword." Deut17:27,"Ifthereisfoundamongyou,inanyoneofthecommunitieswhichtheLord,yourGOD, givesyou,amanorawomanwhodoesevilinthesightoftheLord,yourGOD,andtransgressesHis covenant,byservingothergods,orbyworshipingthesunorthemoonoranyofthehostofthesky againstMycommand;andif,onbeinginformedofit,youfindbycarefulinvestigationthatitistrue andanestablishedfactthatthisabominationhasbeencommittedinIsrael:youshallbringtheman (orwoman)whohasdonetheevildeedouttoyourcitygatesandstonehimtodeath.Thetestimony oftwoorthree(atribunal.Seedefinition2above)witnessesisrequiredforputtingapersonto death;nooneshallbeputtodeathonthetestimonyofonlyonewitness.Attheexecution,the witnessesaretobethefirsttoraisetheirhandsagainsthim;afterwardallthepeoplearetojoin in.Thusshallyoupurgetheevilfromyourmidst." Deut19:1819,"...Andifafterathoroughinvestigationthejudgesfindthatthewitnessisafalse witnessandhasaccusedhiskinsmanfalsely,youshalldotohimasheplannedtodotohis kinsman.Thusshallyoupurgetheevilfromyourmidst." Est2:23,"AndwhenInquisitionwasmadeofthematter,itwasfoundout;thereforetheywereboth hangedonatree:anditwaswritteninthebookofthechroniclesbeforetheking." Wisdom1:9,"ForInquisitionshallbemadeintothethoughtsoftheungodly,andthehearingofhis wordsshallcometoGOD,tothechastisingofhisiniquities. Isa54:17,"Noweaponthatisformedagainsttheeshallprosper,andeverytonguethatshallrise againsttheeinjudgment,THOUSHALTCONDEMN.Thisistheinheritanceoftheservantsofthe Lord,andtheirjusticewithMe,saidtheLord." IrealizethatintheOldTestament,GODwasmuchharsherinHispunishmentofthemanwhowas disobedient.However,theOldandtheNewTestamentsareonecontinuousstory.Remember,"The NewTestamentlieshiddenintheOld,andtheOldTestamentisrevealedintheNew." Matt18:1518,JesusChristHimself,toldustomakeInquisitionofaquestionableperson,andto atribunalofpersons,andlookwhereHedelegatedthefinalauthority,HisCatholicChurch. "Butifyourbrothersinagainstyou,goandshowhimhisfault(theInquisitionfirstpointedoutthe errorofthepersonbeingquestioned),betweenyouandhimalone.Ifhelistenstoyou,youhave

wonyourbrother.Butifhedoesnotlistentoyou,takewithyouoneortwomoresothatonthe wordoftwoorthreewitnesses(atribunal)everywordmaybeconfirmed.Andifherefusetohear them,appealtotheChurch,butifherefusestoheareventheChurch,lethimbetoyouasthe heathenandthepublican." HeathenswerepeoplewhodidnotacknowledgetheGODofJudaismortheGODofChristianity. PublicanswereJewishtaxcollectorswhoworkedfortheRomans.Consequently,theywerehatedby theJewsandwereviewedassinners.Anotherwordtouseforbothis'Heretic'. Acts20:2831,"TakeheedtoyourselvesandtothewholeflockinwhichtheHolySpirithasplaced youasBishops,toruletheChurchofGOD,whichHehaspurchasedwithHisownblood.Iknowthat aftermydeparturefiercewolveswillgetinamongyou,andwillnotsparetheflock.Andfromamong yourownselvesmenwillrisespeakingperversethings,todrawawaythedisciplesafter them.Watch,therefore,andrememberthatforthreeyearsnightanddayIdidnotceasewithtears toadmonisheveryoneofyou." 1Cor5:13,"ForthoseoutsideGODwilljudge.Expelthewickedmanfromyourmidst." Tit3:1011,"Afactiousmanavoidafterafirstandsecondadmonition,knowingthatsuchaoneis pervertedandsins,beingselfcondemned." NowwhenyouspeakoftheInquisition,youhavetobespecificastowhichInquisitionyouare referring.TherewereseveralofthemwhichwerespreadoverseveralcountriesofEurope,and whichspannedatimeframeofjustoversixcenturies.Eachwasformedtocountera serioushereticalthreattotheCatholicChurch.Inordertoproperlyunderstandthepurposesofthe conveningoftheInquisitions,youshouldtransportyourthinkingbacktothetimesinwhichthey began.Youshouldbemindfulofthecustomsofthepeople,knowalittleoftheirhistory,sensethe pressurestheywereunder,andunderstandthethreatsthatwerebeingmadetotheChurch.You shouldalsobeawareofthehistoryoftheCatholicChurch,ofwhich,sinceitsveryfoundationby JesusChrist,hasbeen(andistothisveryday)underconstantattackbyheretics.TheChurch rememberswell,thedamagedonebypasthereticssuchasMontanus,Novatians,Manicheans, Donatists,Arians,Pelagians,Nestorians,Waldenses,Albigenses,Catharists,andliterallyhundreds more. EveryChristian,regardlessofsect,owesadebtofgratitudetotheCatholicChurchforrepressing theseheresiesinthepast,andforpreservingChristianityforall.JesusChristcertainlyhasfulfilled HiswordwhenHetoldusinMatt16:18,thatthegatesofhellwillNOTprevailagainstHisChurch.He willkeepHiswordforeverasweallknow.Nameanotherorganizationthathaswithstoodtheslings andarrowsofthousandsofattacksoveraperiodofalmost2000years,andyethasgrownand prosperedashastheCatholicChurch? "Whatthenshallwesaytothesethings?IFGODISFORUS,WHOISAGAINSTUS?" Romans8:31 "Forifthisplanorworkisofmen,itwillbeoverthrown; butifitisofGOD,youwillnotbeabletooverthrowit.

ELSEPERHAPSYOUMAYFINDYOURSELVESFIGHTINGEVENAGAINSTGOD." Acts5:3839 SincetheCatholicChurchhasexistedforalmost2000years,anditcertainlyhasbeentried byHeretics,Jews,Romans,Protestants,theFrenchRevolution,Hitler,Communism,andawhole hostofotherstooverthrowit,thenweareleftwithonlytwologicalconclusions. EithertheCatholicChurchisofGOD,orGOD'sWordinActs5:3839issimplynottrue. ItisnotmyintentiontopresentacomprehensivehistoryofthevariousInquisitionshere,asitwould takemanypagesforeachofthem. (1)Medieval...1233 ThiswasconsideredtobethefirstoftheInquisitions.Itwasconvenedspecificallytocombatthe Albigensianheresy.Thiswasacancerousheresywhichthreatenedtheveryfoundationsofthe Church. (2)French....1306 ThisInquisitionwascalledagaintocombattheAlbigensian(orCathari)heresy. (3)Spanish.....14781834 ThisistheInquisitionofwhichmostdetractorsrefer.Itwasinitiatedbytheseculargovernmentsof FranceandSpainandwiththeapprovaloftheChurchatthebeginning.BeitknownthatSpainhad beenunderfierceattackfromMoslemsforover700years.(ReadabouttheSpanishhero,ElCid,for moreontheseMoslemandMoorconquests).TheMoslemsweredeterminedtoconvertCatholic SpainintoaMoslemstatebyforceofwar.ThepurposeoftheInquisitionwastoferretoutMoslems andJewswhowerecausingsocialhavocbyposingasfaithfulCatholics.Somewereeven masqueradingaspriestsandbishopsandtheywereattemptingtoleadthefaithfulawayfromthe Church.NonCatholicswhoadmittedtheywerenonCatholicswerenotpersecutedby theInquisition. SeveralPopescondemnedtheInquisition,whichhadcomeunderthecontroloftheSpanishcivil authorities,whenitwasbroughttotheirattentionthatciviljusticewasgivingwaytocruelabuses.It wasthisinsistentcondemnationbythePopeswhichfinallyputanendtotheInquisitions. Nooneknowstheexactfiguresforsure,butitisestimatedthattherewerelessthan60,000cases spreadovera356yearperioduntiltheSpanishInquisitionwasfinallyabolishedin1834.This averagestolessthan169casesperyear.Ofthisnumber,thevastmajoritywereexonerated. Accordingtomodernscholars,approximately20006000fromtheSpanishInquisitionalone*,anda totalof50009000fromallInquisitionscombined,forovertheentiresixcenturyperiodwereturned overtosecularauthoritiesforpunishmentorexecution,butonlyafterasecondtrialforarepeated offense.Itistobenotedthatthehighestfigureof9000isfarlowerthanthetotalnumberof executionsbythecivilauthoritiesofthosecountrieswhichheldInquisitionsinthissametimeframe. Notsurprisingly,ProtestantestimatesofthenumberskilledbythevariousInquisitionsarefarhigher (ofcourse)witharangeofashighas300,000toanastronomical95,000,000**.Thatlastfigure,of course,ishighlyridiculous,asthatnumberisfarhigherthantheentirepopulationofallofEuropeat thetime.Recordsrecoveredfromthisera,supportthefiguresoflessthan60,000casestotalfor

allInquisitions,asIhaveshownabove,andtherehavebeennoauthenticrecordsfoundwhich supportanywhereneartheProtestantchargesofhundredsofthousands,ormillionsofcases. GohereformuchmoredetailthanIhaverecountedhere:TheSpanishInquisition *"Researchhasshownthataboutfourthousanddeathsoccurredatthehandsof theSpanishInquisitionduringalmostthreecenturies."RadioReplies1:1069,RumbleandCarty. **AProtestantbook,"TheMysteryofBabylonRevealed". (4)Roman.......1542 ThisInquisitionwasconvenedtocombattheProtestanthereticssoonafterthestartofthe reformation.WeallknowthestoryofthecensureofGalileofromthisInquisitionin1616.PopeJohn PaulIIhasrecentlydeclaredGalileo'scensure,andthereforehispersecutionbythisInquisition,to beinerror.HehasapologizedfortheparttheChurchhadplayedinit. TothosewhoenjoyneedlingCatholicsoverthissubject,Imustremindyoutolookinyourown backyardbeforedoingso.Iamremindedofthephrase,"Peoplewholiveinglasshousesshouldn't throwstones." TheProtestanthistoryofpersecutions,especiallyofCatholics,isnotpretty.Ihavepresentedgood reasonsfortheInquisitionshere.ThereseemstobenovalidreasonsforProtestantpersecutionof Catholicsexceptfortheirdesiretototallyannihilatethem.Hereareafewexamples... KingHenryVIIIisresponsibleforthedeathsofover70,000Catholicsincludinghundredsofpriests andBishops.HehadSt.ThomasMoreexecutedin1535.Heevenorderedthedestructionofmostof theuncorruptedbodiesofsaintsinEngland.Theonlybodiesthatwerenotdestroyedaretheones takenbyCatholicsandhiddenfromthepersecutors. JohnCalvin,oneoftheProtestantreformers,viciouslypersecutedCatholicsasheretics.He persecutedothersaswell,andhadarivalcritic,MichaelServetus,burnedaliveinOctober1553. QueenElizabethI,hadthousandsofCatholicsputtodeathinEngland.SheorderedthatCatholic MaryQueenofScotsbeexecutedin1587.ShehadthousandsmorekilledinIreland. OliverCromwellisresponsibleforstartingtheEnglishcivilwarandthesubsequentbeheadingof CatholicKingCharlesI,andforthekillingofthousandsofCatholicsinthatwarof16421649. ThousandsofCatholicsweremurderedinIrelandbytheEnglishinthe19thcenturysimplybecause theyattendedtheCatholicMass.TheProtestantEnglishredcoatswerealsoresponsiblefor confiscatingthefoodfromtheIrishpeopleandforleavingthemonlywithpotatoeswhichwere blightedandunfittoeat.Inthemid19thcenturythiscausedthedeathsbystarvationofan estimated11.5millionIrishCatholics,andtheemigrationofabout2millionmore.Itwasacaseof eitherleavethecountryordieofstarvation. Howmanythousandsofwomenwereburnedatthestakeafterwitchtrials,byProtestantwitch

hunters,overseveralcenturies,andthroughoutEuropeandAmerica?Itisestimatedthat30,000 wenttotheirdeathsinBritainalone,andanother100,000inProtestantGermany***.Interestingly, theProtestantmindsetinthosetimeswasthatifthewomansurvivedtheburning,shewas considerednottobeawitch.Nowjusthowmanyinnocentwomen,doyouthink,survivedthis horror?

***"IsabellaofSpain",byWilliamThomasWalsh. "TheGoldenCenturyofSpain",byR.TrevorDavies.

Isn'titstrangethatthosewhoaccusetheCatholicChurchofconveningInquisitions,whichIhave showntobeBiblicalandthereforewerelegitimate,nevermentiontheseProtestantatrocities,most ofwhichwhentakenseparately,farsurpassthetotalnumbersofdeathsduetoalloftheInquisitions combined? Interestingly,inthiswriting,IhaverecountedanapologyfromtheCatholicChurchfortheinjustice whichwasdonetoGalileo.IhaveyettoseeanyProtestantapologyforanyoftheinjusticesthey haveperpetratedagainstCatholics.TheCatholicChurchdoesnotpersecuteProtestants,however, ProtestantscontinuetopersecuteCatholics,asevidencedrecentlybyBritainsrefusaltoallow CatholicstoascendtotheMonarchy.ProtestantbigotryhaslastedmuchlongerthanCatholic persecutionhas. ThedeathsattributedtotheInquisitionspaleimmeasurablytothe1.2millionhumanskilledby abortioneveryyearintheUnitedStatesalone.Addtothisfigurethemanymoremillionsaborted fromalloftheothercountriesoftheworld.TothoseofyouwhoattacktheCatholicChurchover theInquisitions,Imustask,"Sinceitseemsthatyouareconcernedabouthumanlife,whoisthe mostoutspokeninthewholeworldincombatingthis'cultureofdeath'inwhichwelivetoday?" ItisnoneotherthantheCatholicChurch. Howcananyonewhoissoconcernedaboutthevalueofhumanlifeofthepast,notbeconcernedat allabouthumanlifeinthepresent? Iwouldsuggestthatyoushouldnotbesoconcernedaboutsomethingthathappenedhundredsof yearsago,ofwhichneitheryounorIcandoanythingabout,andchannelyourenergytojoinin attackinganevilofthepresentday,anevilthatyoucandosomethingabout,anevilgoingonright now,inyourlifetime,andrightbeforeyourveryeyes.JoinwiththeCatholicChurchandfunnelyour energiestoprotestthispresentdaygenocide. ItisthegreatestevilconceivedbymansincetheCrucifixion. http://www.thecatholictreasurechest.com/inquis.htm
CompiledbyBobStanley,January7,2000 UpdatedMarch4,2006 AspecialthankstoTimBrennanandEricOstmannfortheir historicalinput.