[OLD REGGIE]

"Wherefore if forgers or money and other evil-doers are forewith condemned to death by the secular authority, much more reason is there for heretics, as soon as they are convicted of heresy, to be not only excommunicated, but even put to death." (Aquinas)

You agree?

[annalex]

Heresy is indeed worse than physical death, and is comparable to forgery. It would not be unreasonable to demand that the punishment be the same, especially in a confessional state that St. Thomas was commenting about.

[Mad Dawg]

You agree?

Do I know this heretic personally? Does he or she post on Free Republic? Is it good weather for an outdoor fire?

My guess is that thoughtful people interested more in conversation than contention understand that 600 or so years ago the very idea of religious pluralism and of the toleration of wide range of beliefs was as uncommon as thinking that slavery was in almost every case evil.

Now, as then we find treachery and spying for the enemy horribly vicious and harmful to the general welfare, so those who want to understand those with whom they disagree can see how reasonable people of good will could have thought what Aquinas thought.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

"Wherefore if forgers or money and other evil-doers are forewith condemned to death by the secular authority, much more reason is there for heretics, as soon as they are convicted of heresy, to be not only excommunicated, but even put to death." (Aquinas)

LOL. And they say Calvin was short-tempered. 8~)