OK, brother. To start off, I want to say that no one enters this conversation with clean hands. The Catholic Church has had corruption in it in the past, and done some wrong things. But as you will see, the protestants haven't been innocent either. So if you're claiming that the Catholic Church is evil because of some corrupt members (which you will find anywhere where there is the human element), then you will have to make the same judgement on the Protestant Church too. Here is some information I found about the Spanish inquisition:
The 16th century was a brutal period. The use of torture and execution by burning at the stake was common in Catholic and Protestant Europe. In the Elizabethan courts of Protestant England, people were hung, drawn and quartered for hearing Mass in their own homes (remember how you mentioned martyrdom in your earlier comment?).
Furthermore, not only was the Mass illegal in Elizabeth England but anyone who did not attend anglican services was fined. Anyone who refused to take the Oath of Supremecy after two refusals was executed. To convert to Catholicism was high treason; priests could be executed if caught; informers roamed the country reporting on priests and Catholic activity.
About the Spanish Inquisition:
The Spanish Inquisition was established in 1478 and is the most famous, or infamous, of all Inquisitions. In 1492, Spain was finally united as a single country after nearly 8 centuries of struggle against the Moors. Queen Isabella knew that Spains unity depended upon a strong Church. She set about halting many abuses.
One of the more serious problems faced by Isabella was the number of Jews and Moors who had pretended to convert to the Catholic religion without really believing in it. These false converts had risen to high positions in government and Church, and many were secretly plotting the downfall of Isabella, Spain and the Church.
The method chosen by Isabella to find these agents was the Inquisition. What is often overlooked is that the Spanish Inquisition was instituted for persons who proffessed to be Catholics and not for practicing Jews or Moslems. It also aimed to unearth and bring to penance bigamists, adulterers, heretics (like me apparently), blasphemers and other baptized men and women who violated the teachings of the Catholic Church.
At first there were abuses, with many people being falsely accused, tortured and imprisoned. Popes Leo X, Paul III, Paul IV and Sixtus IV condemned these abuses. Pope Leo X, for example, excommunicated the Catholic tribunal at Toledo and ordered the arrest of the witnesses who appeared before it for perjury.New judges were appointed,headed by the Dominican friar Thomas de Torquemanda. He reformed procedures, making them more lenient, improving prison conditions and personally heard appeals. Torquemanda was pious and just, and certainly does not deserve the reputation foisted upon him by slanderers who have an "axe to grind" against all things Catholic.
The 16th century was a brutal period. The use of torture and execution by burning at the stake was common in Catholic and Protestant Europe. In the Elizabethan courts of Protestant England, people were hung, drawn and quartered for hearing Mass in their own homes (remember how you mentioned martyrdom in your earlier comment?).
Furthermore, not only was the Mass illegal in Elizabeth England but anyone who did not attend anglican services was fined. Anyone who refused to take the Oath of Supremecy after two refusals was executed. To convert to Catholicism was high treason; priests could be executed if caught; informers roamed the country reporting on priests and Catholic activity.
Mate, I'm not saying that everybody in the Catholic Church is perfect. But Her teachings are true and just! Here's what the Catechism says about the past:
2298 In times past, cruel practices were commonly used by legitimate governments to maintain law and order, often without protest from the Pastors of the Church, who themselves adopted in their own tribunals the prescriptions of Roman law concerning torture. Regrettable as these facts are, the Church always taught the duty of clemency and mercy. She forbade clerics to shed blood. In recent times it has become evident that these cruel practices were neither necessary for public order, nor in conformity with the legitimate rights of the human person. On the contrary, these practices led to ones even more degrading. It is necessary to work for their abolition. We must pray for the victims and their tormentors.
Brother! Nobody comes into this discussion about violence with clean hands. Including the Protestants. God bless.
