[Clintons a commie]

I like the parts about indulgences and purgatory - they're swell. And then there's that ugly thing called the inquisition; shhhh - be vewy vewy quiet - I'm hunting pwotestants. And, at one time, weren't there actually three Popes (one in France, one in Italy, and one appointed by another council)?

None of that disproves the ancient belief among Christians in Purgatory, the Papacy, etc. As far as the Inquistion goes, yeah, not our best moment. But the destruction of monasteries and church properties, and the burning of "witches", doesn't exactly put Protestantism at it's infancy in the very best light either.

[wideawake]

As far as the Inquistion goes, yeah, not our best moment.

Compared to the policies and judicial processes of the Protestant kingdoms, the Spanish Inquisition was a shining exemplar. Catholics are always too quick to accept the Protestant version of history on this matter.

[AD from SpringBay]

None of that disproves the ancient belief among Christians in Purgatory, the Papacy, etc. As far as the Inquistion goes, yeah, not our best moment. But the destruction of monasteries and church properties, and the burning of "witches", doesn't exactly put Protestantism at it's infancy in the very best light either.

But that's sort of the point - tradition vs. canon, not trying to (mis)prove anything - just an observation. And I don't think the middle ages should represent the infancy of Roman Catholicism if, as Roman Catholics claim, it's been around since, "day one." Personally, call it what you want - evil is evil - no matter who is doing the burning and killing (Protestant or Catholic - wicked is as wicked does, that's what mamma used to say). You will know them by their fruit - something like that.