POPES, SCHISMS, INQUISITIONS

THE CHURCH

The Avignon Papacy
Could there be two popes at the same time? YES! Site examines underlying events leading to the relocation of the popes' residence to Avignon (1305-1378) and the Great Schism (1378-1417) that follows.
The Beginning of the Medieval Period
The Church as the key to the integration of cultures and the dominant institution during the Middle Ages. Church assumes many political responsibilities giving more power to Popes, Bishops, and church leaders. Out of the growth of the church came two new institutions for the forwarding of learning and knowledge: the monastery and the cathedral. Feudalism, the political and military system. Manoralism, the economic foundation for feudalism.
Innocent III and the Great Schism
"The reign of Innocent III as Pontiff in Western Christendom, and the tragedy of the great schism between Eastern and Western Christians as a lasting consequence of the Fourth Crusade.
Citta - A Tour of the Vatican City - Important Christendom Site
Gender and the Medieval Beguines
"The Beguines of northern Europe have been called the first women's movement in Christian history. This group of religiously dedicated laywomen, who took no permanent vows, followed no prescribed rule, supported themselves by manual labor, interacted with the "world," and remained celibate, flourished in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries - a time when the Church had defined two legitimate roles for pious women: cloistered nun and keepers at home. With their freedom of movement, economic independence and spiritual creativity, the Beguines carved out an unusually expansive - and controversial - niche for female religious expression."
Vulgate
Something vulgar? No!!! It's the Latin translation of the Bible initially done by St. Jerome. The Sixtine-Clementine edition of the Latin Bible published (printed) in 1592 at Rome by Aldus Manutius the Younger. Council of Trent declared the Vulgate Bible the official Bible.  Papal bull forbade the printing of any edition outside the Vatican for 10 years.

SOCIETY OF JESUS

Generals of the Society
"On July 2, 1558, they elected Diego Lainez as the second General of the Society." Reveals history regarding Ignatius's successor. To witness Jesuit politics in action, here it is.
Ignatius & the Bible
Scripture, along with other branches of knowledge, as a part of the learning which purpose was "to help the souls of its own members and those of their fellowmen." Ignatius' application of scripture. Holy writ centered lifestyle amongst his colleagues. Good Jesuit apologetics.
St. Ignatius, The Founder
"A new desire to serve Jesus replaced his former hopes of knightly glory." Concise overview of Jesuit evolution. Elucidates Ignatius' motivation. Neophyte friendly.
Society of Jesus: What is it?
"A religious order founded by Saint Ignatius Loyola. Designated by him "The Company of Jesus" to indicate its true leader and its soldier spirit, the title was Latinized into "Societas Jesu" in the Bull of Paul III approving its formation and the first formula of its Institute ("Regimini militantis ecclesia", 27 Sept., 1540). The term "Jesuit" (of fifteenth-century origin, meaning one who used too frequently or appropriated the name of Jesus), was first applied to the society in reproach (1544-52), and was never employed by its founder, though members and friends of the society in time accepted the name in its good sense. "

INQUISITION AND HERESIES

The Age of Persecution
"Kill them all. God will recognize His own." - Papal legate  Arnaud-Amalric, in reference to Cathars. The "Big Deal" about the Cathars HERE.
Brief History of the Inquisition
Full-scale summary by categories. "The Inquisition was one of the great blights in the history of Christianity. No other institution in the history of the Christian Church was so horrible, so unjust, so...un-Christian." Theological foundations, targets, inquisitors, time-line.
Catholics, Heretics and Heresy
Challenging article by Gilles C H Nullens. "Members of different religions have generally regarded each other, at the best, as different but also, very often, as enemies. . . The people who deviated from one religion, those that we know as heretics in general, have been most of the time in History the object of repression. The main religions have not hesitated to use the secular forces to eliminate what they saw as their worst enemies, those coming from within and trying to change the system and put in doubt the leadership in place."
And who were the enemies?  The Cathars,  "members of a definitely heretic sect - destroyed by the Church. The Templars,  a true Catholic Order, "accused of heresy, probably without any real reason ," and suppressed. The Hospitallers, the Knights of Malta, a Catholic Order. "The Rose-Croix and the Rosicrucians that show the link that always existed between Christians and Masons. . . The incredible story of Rennes-le-Chateau. The importance even to day of the Merovingian dynasty."
Conclusion? "Research about heretics like the Cathars or military/religious orders like the Templars and the Hospitallers shows clearly that the present ethnic wars are nothing new. Atrocities like the recent ones in Bosnia and Africa have happened before and probably will again. It also stresses - and this is not an attack against the organised religions - that where religion and states have interests in common, the repression of any deviation can be terrible."
Catholics, Heretics and Heresy: The Knights Templar
Examines rise and fall of the military monks, Knights Templar a.k.a. "The Poor Knights of the Temple Solomon." When their mission to protect pilgrims in the Holy Land ended with defeat by the Turks, they progressed to amass a treasure of wealth second only to the papacy. In 1306, King Philipe IV of France initiated the inquisition of the Knights Templar with dubious motives. Thus, they became prime suspects of heresy and successfully dismantled by 1314.
Historical Overview
"After the Roman Church had consolidated its power in the early Middle Ages, heretics came to be regarded as enemies of society. The crime of heresy was defined as a deliberate denial of an article of truth of the Catholic faith, and a public and obstinate persistence in that alleged error. At this time, there was a sense of Christian unity among townspeople and rulers alike, and most of them agreed with the Church that heretics seemed to threated society itself." Good tight summary.
Inquisition
Informative background on how the Catholic Church's permanent institution known as the Inquisition was in charge of eradicating heretics. How through the centuries the Church has dealt with the heretics. How the inquisition evolved through the centuries.
Inquisition. A Heretic's Final Journey
Very disturbing and descriptive site focusing on torture during the Inquisition. Not for everyone. "(These pages are NOT meant to glorify torture. Torture is abominable; perhaps the vilest of all crimes. The point here is to show the dangers of rampant fundamentalism of ANY stripe- and to reveal parts of history censored out by pious, hypocritical, corporate religionists.)
The use of torture is not confined to the Dark Ages or to any religious sect or government. People are being tortured at this very moment in places all over the world. Those of us living in countries where these practices are forbidden have to appreciate the protective aspect of civilization. Yearnings for "anarchy" or a "Bible based society" might be quelled after reading these descriptions and seeing these images."
Additional links for a more critical look at the Church's participation.
The Malleus Maleficarum
"Published in 1486, the Malleus Maleficarum (The Hammer of Witches) was the most popular handbook for Witch hunters during the great Witch craze of the 16th and 17th centuries. Indeed, until Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress began circulating in 1678, only the Bible sold better! Written by two German friars, Jacob Sprenger and Heinrich Kramer who were prosecutors of heretics in the Rhineland and Northern Germany. Although their own behaviour inspired protests to the Pope, in 1484 the recently elected Pope Innocent VIII endorsed their activities.
The Malleus Maleficarum gave theological approval to every grotesque superstition concerning diabolism and Witches, and resulted in the torture and death of thousands of innocent people - particularly Women. The book addressed such questions as 'Why is it that Women are cheifly addicted to evil superstitions?", and concluded that "All Witchcraft comes from carnal lust, which is in Women insatiable...wherefore for the sake of fulfilling their lusts, they consort even with devils.'"
The Medieval Inquisition
"Brief history of the medieval Inquisition." Established in the early thirteenth century to combat widespread popular heresy, the Inquisition and its tribunals identified, prosecuted and punished heretics and their supporters. Seen as a symbol of religious and political intolerance against the Protestants, Jews, Catholic heretics and the political order of the Knights of the Templar. Presents the circumstances of the Medieval Inquisition and revisits the horror of the Church inquisition actions. While the church was accountable for the deaths of many, the townspeople also manipulated the Inquisition to their own advantage.  From excellent article by David Burr:  "When medieval people used the word 'inquisition,' they were referring to a judicial technique, not an organization. There was, in fact, no such thing as 'the Inquisition' in the sense of an impersonal organization with a chain of command. Instead there were 'inquisitors of heretical depravity,' individuals assigned by the pope to inquire into heresy in specific areas. They were called such because they applied a judicial technique known as inquisitio, which could be translated as 'inquiry' or 'inquest.' "  Good  scholarly site.