Seems to be a pretty one sided picture...I see no mention of Catholics burning Protestants at the stake, cutting the stomachs of pregnant Protestant women and ripping out the babies while the mother was still alive, by the thousands, etc...
As I understand it, the violent actions of the Protestants was in response to the murderous, heineous crimes perpetrated by the Catholics in England and throughout Europe AND in the period known as the dark ages; 500-1500 A.D. where the Catholic church murdered anything that moved that wouldn't bow down to the pope...
And, as I understand it, the Catholic church has for centuries claimed anyone outside the church to be anathema and worthy of death (council of Trent (?)), and although not discussed in public, that accusation is still valid today...
Concerning England, Henry VIII started it when he imprisoned and executed Thomas More and Bishop John Fisher, who are both now recognized to be saints by the Catholic Church. Even up to the reign of Elizabeth I, there a great number of Catholic who wanted nothing but the right to have spiritual care from priests, who risked their lives for the sake of these people. Many of them were executed for just doing this.
In terms of "murder" of heretics, this was carried out by national or local governments, not by the Church. Heresy was a crime that was punished by the state. Oh, by the way, the so-called "Dark Ages" weren't really "dark" at all at many points during those years.
You mean like St. Margaret Clitherow, a pregnant lady crushed to death under rocks for the "crime" of concealing a priest?
As I understand it, the violent actions of the Protestants was in response to the murderous, heineous crimes perpetrated by the Catholics in England and throughout Europe AND in the period known as the dark ages; 500-1500 A.D. where the Catholic church murdered anything that moved that wouldn't bow down to the pope...
Is this that famous principle of Christian morality that two wrongs make a right?
You've heard one side of the story. Now you have the other. Neither side was very pretty.
And where was that done???
As I understand it, the violent actions of the Protestants was in response to the murderous, heineous crimes perpetrated by the Catholics in England and throughout Europe AND in the period known as the dark ages; 500-1500 A.D. where the Catholic church murdered anything that moved that wouldn't bow down to the pope...
Could you detail these murders and crimes?
And, as I understand it, the Catholic church has for centuries claimed anyone outside the church to be anathema and worthy of death
Anathema is equivalent to a solemn excommunication.
***And, as I understand it, the Catholic church has for centuries claimed anyone outside the church to be anathema and worthy of death (council of Trent (?)), and although not discussed in public, that accusation is still valid today...***
Nice to see that the level of your understanding continues on at a relatively even level. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15030c.htm may help raise that level.