I seriosly doubt the medieval version of it made as much of a disturbance in the villages compared to the disproportionate amount of attention this nonsense gets today, most of which I would wager is broadcast using conventional means of generating electricity, UN recycled paper, etc.
My serious misgivings come when the penitents want the rest of us to don sackcloth and ashes while they wear 'Brooks Brothers', and send us off barefoot while they ride in lavish carriages.
To continue the concept, though, they must be marginalized, because the Inquisition would not be pretty.
All over junk science.
Our enemies in the world must be laughing their a$$es off, I doubt they could have hatched such a plan.
Thank God that fool was not elected president.
That people consider this egotistical big-mouthed muppet some kind of intellectual is really frightening.