INQUISITION: INTRODUCTION
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 […]
THE SPANISH INQUISITION.
Asa H. Craig, (Asa Hollister), 1847-1934 Probably there is no institution, or name, or feature of Catholic origin, or anything representing Catholic authority, that is so little understood and so loudly and violently condemned by Protestants, as the Spanish Inquisition. So strong has become the prejudice against this institution that its name has become the […]
Truth About the Inquisition
Father John Anthony O’Brien, Ph.D., LL.D. Foreword “The first law of history, is to assert nothing false and to have no fear of telling the truth.” – Leo X//I, Brief on Historical Studies The study of the Inquisition throws into clear relief problems occupying the focal point in our national consciousness today. The problems have […]
The Truth About the Spanish Inquisition
THOMAS F. MADDEN Because it was both professional and efficient, the Spanish Inquisition kept very good records. Vast archives are filled with them. These documents are a goldmine for modern historians who have plunged greedily into them. Thus far, the fruits of that research have made one thing abundantly clear — the myth of the […]
The Spanish Inquisition: Fact Versus Fiction
FR. MARVIN R. O’CONNELL Fr. Marvin R. O’Connell convincingly undoes the Black Legend and reveals the historical reality of the Spanish Inquisition. “Even while I breathed there came to my nostrils the breath of the vapor of heated iron. A suffocating odor pervaded the prison. A deeper glow settled each moment in the eyes that […]
The Role of the Inquisition in Europe
MARIA COLONNA AND CAT CLARK Before discussing inquisitorial courts, it is important to have an understanding of the history and context of these courts. It is also helpful not to approach the topic as if no one ever abused the system or as if the system needed no improvement. Issue: What was the Inquisition? Response: “Inquisition” was […]
The Myth of the Spanish Inquisition
ELLEN RICE “The Myth of the Spanish Inquisition,” a 1994 BBC/A&E production, will re-air on the History Channel this December 3 at 10 p.m. It is a definite must-see for anyone who wishes to know how historians now evaluate the Spanish Inquisition since the opening of an investigation into the Inquisition’s archives. The special includes […]
The Inquisition
ANNE W. CARROLL The Inquisition was considered by the Spanish of the day to be a more just court than most. Often people charged with regular crimes would pretend to be heretics so that they could be transferred to the custody of the Inquisition, whose prisoners were better treated. This resource serves as a corrective […]
The Inquisition
FR. WILLIAM G. MOST This topic is a favorite for attacking the Church. We need to remember two things: 1) Actions are not the same as teachings. 2) The abuses were much less than most people think. This topic is a favorite for attacking the Church. We need to remember two things: 1) Actions are […]
Inquisition in the Catholic Church
BENJAMIN D. WIKER To assess the Inquisition properly, we must distinguish between the principle which undergirded it, and the actions of those responsible for implementing the principle. The principle — that the Church must guard the faith against deviations — is an obligation of divine law (cf. Mt. 18:18; 2 Tim. 1:14). The actions taken […]