[livius]

Puhleeze. The Templars were initially a very good, completely orthodox order. Some of them - not all, by any means - seem to have started dabbling in things ranging from the occult to homosexuality. It's unfortunate that the whole order had to be suppressed, but many orders have been suppressed in the life of the Church, some for heterodoxy and some simply because they had outlived their usefulness. With the Templars, it was a bit of both.

In any case, the Templars gave rise to a whole Masonic wing and to lots of New Age books, so why should their self-proclaimed heirs complain? Nowadays, the Templars are more popular than orthodox Catholicism.

[Galena Nevada]

I think most Templar descendants would argue that the church spread rumors about their participation in the occult or homosexuality to justify their cruel treatment.

[AMDG&BVMH]

"Templars are more popular than orthodox Catholicism"

agree with everything but the above from your comment.

There is a Romance assoc. with the Templars, because of the Grail and Arthurian legends. But I see no sign that they are about to overcome the Holy Roman Catholic Church. ;)

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Since neither Pope John Paul II, a native of Poland, nor any of the living Catholic heirs of the Bourbon or Capetian dynasties had anything to do with the trials and executions in the 14th-century, asking them to offer an "apology" is a little absurd. It would be like asking Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth, or Tony Blair to "apologize" for the outrages and terrorism of Henry VIII and Oliver Cromwell.

Interesting article though...

[MagnumRancid]

Double Puhleeze. The Templar founders were adventurers and opportunists. The Church and Crusades were where the action was. They were "suppressed", as you put, it because the Pope and certain European royalty were afraid of the financial empire the Templars were creating.

[Redbob]

"Nowadays, the Templars are more popular than orthodox Catholicism."

Must be why you see so many Temples of the Knights Templar all around these days.
</sarcasm>

[LachlanMinnesota]

I wouldbe interested in any sources forthesestatements that did not emenate from the Church or simply repeat accusations made by the church as grounds for persecuting the Order.

[ZULU]

"Some of them - not all, by any means - seem to have started dabbling in things ranging from the occult to homosexuality."

Interesting what a few racks and some hot irons will induce a person to admit to.

I suggest you read some more about this order and Philip the "Fair" of France who engineered this evil plot.

Because a few members of an order may have problems, does that erase the good the entire organization accomplished over its existence? Hardly.

The dissolution and persecution of the Knights Templar was an international disgrace and purely motivated by the Frence monarchy for monetary purposes. The collusion of the Pope in this affair was disgraceful, but then he too had been the victim of Philip the Fair's pressure.

[RinaseaofDs]

Jesus would never settle in France.