Free Republic

If the world is a complete disastrous mess, blame the Catholic Church. Throughout history, this aphorism has popped up with some frequency and in various forms. And while this condemnation has frequently been issued by those of an anti-Papist stripe, it has just as often been uttered by devout Catholics themselves, even saints and popes. How is this possible, you ask? Well, let’s check in with Fulcher of Chartres who in AD 1105 penned the quote that may be seen in the image at the beginning of this post: “What wonder that the whole world was a prey to disturbance...

Featured Term (selected at random):WESTERN SCHISM Widespread division in Catholic unity caused by rival claims to the Papacy. In the Western Schism (1378-1417) there were two and later three claimants to the Papacy at the same time. The election of Urban VI (1318-89) was challenged post factum by thirteen of his cardinal electors, who in 1378 chose Clement VII as Avignon Pope in his stead. After thirty years of fruitless efforts to settle the rift, a council of prelates at Pisa in 1409 sought to depose the Roman and Avignon pontiffs and elected Alexander V. Finally the schism was healed...