It is interesting that Catholic thinkers (whom you accuse of blind ideology) created the Magna Carta, the ur-document of Constitional Law. Its principal author and negotiator was Stephen Langton, Catholic Archbishop of Canterbury between 1207 and 1228.
The movable type printing press was invented by Catholic Johannes Gutenberg was the first book printed on it was the Catholic Bible.
Patent law and the development of the Sciences (both theoretical and practical) progressed in the High Middle Ages, which gave us the first Universities in the world.
The first Universities in the world:
University of Bologna,est. 1088, Catholic.
University ff Oxford, est. 1096, Catholic.
University of Salamanca, est. 1134, Catholic.
University of Paris, est. 1166, Catholic.
University of Cambridge, est. 1239, Catholic.
University of Padua, esp. 122, Catholic.
University of Naples, est. 1224,Catholic.
University of Siena, xt. 1240, Catholic.
University of Coimbra, est. 1290, Catholic.
OK, many more in Europe, every one of them Catholic (Universities of Perugia; Sapienzia in Rome; Complutense in Madrid, Macertta, Valladolid, etc.etc. all before the 14th century). Let's note the first Unversities on other continents as well. For instance, Asia:
University of Santo Tomas est. 1611 (in the Philippines), Catholic.
Interesting also to see that the Catholics had established eight Universities in Central and South America (Lima; Mexico City; La Plata o Charcas; Santo Tomas; Santiago de la Paz, Cordoba; Quito; and Quito) ... all before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.
And what did they teach and study in the Universities? Unlike madrassas, yeshivas, lamaseries and confucian imperial mandarin schools, which concentrated heavily on memorization, recitation, and writing in a style which imitated sacred texts, the Catholic univsities were organized around a core curriculum of the seven liberal arts: arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, music theory, grammar, logic, and rhetoric.
Meanwhile, the Spanish Catholics at Salamanca were developing the concepts of procedural and substantive due process, and international law. They originated the basic definition of what a human being, or "person," is -- an entity of any race, color, culture or appearance possessing or capable of possessing intellect and free will--- in contrast to an irrational beast.
In consequence, they developed the theory of Universal Natural Rights, including the rights to simply go on living, to make their own choices inasmuch as they did not interfere with others' basic rights, and to securely possess and use property and the products of their labor for their own purposes and satisfaction. Put briefly, the Natural Rights comprised Life, Liberty, and Property (or pursuit of happiness)--- embraced centuries later in Jefferson's world as Natural Law.
So: with regard to "blind ideology"?
When you turn on the lights, a little rearrangement of your mental furniture may be in order.
Appreciate the history and references. But once again I apologize for dropping in here, it was a mistake. Something I learned a long time ago is to stay out of threads owned by the Church.
When were the Salamanca Catholics doing the intellectual development you describe in your comment? I wonder how that date period compares with the English Magna Carta, 1225 I think?