The Roman Inquisition
- Dates
- 1542–1908 AD
Consisted of tribunals held by the the Roman Catholic Church to prosecute crimes against church doctrine.
In detail
Since the time of Emperor Constantine (c. 313), papal authorities often acted as inquisitors, bringing punishment to people or groups that offended the Catholic Church. In the late 1400s, the Spanish Inquisition was launched primarily against the Jewish people. However, during the Catholic Counter—Reformation, the Inquisition reached its zenith in its attempt to eradicate Protestantism.
In 1542 Pope Paul III revived the Inquisition in Italy and based it upon the Spanish model (used previously during the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella). The Roman Inquisition began with the establishment of the Congregation of the Holy Office. Within this organization, the position of the Inquisitor—General held the authority to stamp out heresy by whatever means necessary.
In 1908 the Congregation of the Holy Office was renamed the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office. In 1965, as a result of Vatican II, the name changed again to the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith. However, the primary objective of that office has never changed—to maintain/protect Catholic orthodoxy.
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