Voices of Protest and Intolerance
Many times, the passion which people had for better religious rigor and more reforms would get them into trouble and cause strife within the church. Many times the idea of heresy would pop up and it slowly began to pollute the church doctrine. One of the most common heresies was that of the Catharism. It was founded by the Cathars, the word meaning pure, from the city of Albi in France. They thought that good and evil were not mixed, but separate from one another- like oil and water. They separated them into things of the Spirit, and things of the world. This was an ideal of dualism, which they also believed was in humans. They thought that a person's soul was good, since it was made to live on in eternal life, and that their body was bad because it was made from dust and was worldly. The Cathars also believed that the Catholic Church was evil, and that its authority was powerless and should be ignored. The Cathars attempted to get approval and followers from the nobles in southern France and northern Italy.
Pope Innocent III was very appalled by the spread of heresy, and asked the people of southern France to join him in a fight against the Albigensians in 1209, and this fight went on for about 20 years. There were so many of the heretics that were killed, including whole towns.
Even though the population was almost completely wiped out, the Cathars were still around, and this meant the Catholic Church needed to develop a plan to get rid of heresy. Out of this came the Holy Office, which was also known as the papal Inquisition, which was a court that had to try heretics. The Holy Office began to develop its way of trying heretics. The accuser remained unknown to an accused heretic, so that they could be protected. If a heretic admitted to heresy, then they had to do public reconciliation, such as being whipped. Then they had their property taken away and it was given to the church, and lords and kings. In 1252, the idea that those didn't confess had to be tortured sprouted up. If anyone had previously confessed, and then renounced their confession, they would be executed. The reason that heresy was such a big deal was because it was considered a crime against God and humanity. The heretics weren't the only ones on which this method was used.
Pope Innocent III was very appalled by the spread of heresy, and asked the people of southern France to join him in a fight against the Albigensians in 1209, and this fight went on for about 20 years. There were so many of the heretics that were killed, including whole towns.
Even though the population was almost completely wiped out, the Cathars were still around, and this meant the Catholic Church needed to develop a plan to get rid of heresy. Out of this came the Holy Office, which was also known as the papal Inquisition, which was a court that had to try heretics. The Holy Office began to develop its way of trying heretics. The accuser remained unknown to an accused heretic, so that they could be protected. If a heretic admitted to heresy, then they had to do public reconciliation, such as being whipped. Then they had their property taken away and it was given to the church, and lords and kings. In 1252, the idea that those didn't confess had to be tortured sprouted up. If anyone had previously confessed, and then renounced their confession, they would be executed. The reason that heresy was such a big deal was because it was considered a crime against God and humanity. The heretics weren't the only ones on which this method was used.
Persecution of the Jews
The Jews were the only people in Europe that were allowed to practice something other than Christianity. The Jews had previously been in the trade business, many working in guilds, but in the Early Middle Ages, they were not allowed to continue that. Many Jews then decided to do moneylending.
Because of the renewed religious dedication by the Christians, the Jews were beginning to be affected. By the time of the first Crusades, France and the Rhineland both were persecuting Jews because they did no follow Christianity. Many crusader would stop and persecute Jews while they were on their way to the crusades. Anyone who tried to protect or hide Jews also became caught in the line of fire. The archbishop of Mainz gave shelter to some Jews, and he was flushed out by a mob. The popes did attempt to fix the problem by creating laws that said Jews couldn't be persecuted, but that didn't stop many people.
In the 13th century, the persecution of Jews became widespread, and atrocious. The Friars would tell the people that the Jews were the very killers of Christ, and that they should be held accountable for what they did. In 1215, the Fourth Lateran Council said that Jews had to wear different clothing to be set apart from everyone else. They also encouraged the building of ghettos, where only Jews would live in their own separate community. Many of the kings that said they protected Jews were now taking the Jews money, and not giving protection in return. In 1290, Edward I kicked all of the Jews out of England, and in 1306, the French king did so as well, only to allow them back 9 years later. Because the Jews were unwanted and even hated, many moved into Poland.
Because of the renewed religious dedication by the Christians, the Jews were beginning to be affected. By the time of the first Crusades, France and the Rhineland both were persecuting Jews because they did no follow Christianity. Many crusader would stop and persecute Jews while they were on their way to the crusades. Anyone who tried to protect or hide Jews also became caught in the line of fire. The archbishop of Mainz gave shelter to some Jews, and he was flushed out by a mob. The popes did attempt to fix the problem by creating laws that said Jews couldn't be persecuted, but that didn't stop many people.
In the 13th century, the persecution of Jews became widespread, and atrocious. The Friars would tell the people that the Jews were the very killers of Christ, and that they should be held accountable for what they did. In 1215, the Fourth Lateran Council said that Jews had to wear different clothing to be set apart from everyone else. They also encouraged the building of ghettos, where only Jews would live in their own separate community. Many of the kings that said they protected Jews were now taking the Jews money, and not giving protection in return. In 1290, Edward I kicked all of the Jews out of England, and in 1306, the French king did so as well, only to allow them back 9 years later. Because the Jews were unwanted and even hated, many moved into Poland.
Intolerance of Homosexuality
Just as the people were intolerant of Jews, Muslims, and heresy, they were also intolerant of homosexuals. The church was not very concerned about it beforehand, but now that it was becoming a problem in the 13th century, homosexuality was frowned upon and changes were made. Many homosexuals were immediately associated with the Albigensians or the Muslims. Now homosexuality deserved death. Thomas Aquinas said in Summa Theologica that homosexuality was against nature and that it shouldn't exist. Therefore laws were made against homosexuality and punishment was inevitable.