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medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Vatican opens inquiry into the Inquisition Reuters, November 11, 2004 (at http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Vatican-opens-inquiry-into-the-Inquisition/2004/11/10/1100021883368.html?oneclick=true) Vatican City: The Vatican is opening up more of its archives on the Inquisition as part of an unprecedented study of the effect the Catholic Church's attempt to control religious belief had on medieval and modern history. The Holy See said on Tuesday it will co-operate with Italy's Culture Ministry and Italian universities to catalogue thousands of documents about the Inquisition, in which people branded as heretics were killed. Pope Gregory IX created the Inquisition in 1233 to curb heresy, but officials soon began to count on civil authorities to fine, imprison, torture and kill heretics. It reached a peak in the 16th century to counter the Reformation. The decision to assist the project was the Vatican's latest gesture to try to come to terms with the past. It sponsored an academic symposium six years ago, and in 2000 Pope John Paul asked forgiveness "for errors committed in the service of truth through use of methods that had nothing to do with the Gospel". That was shorthand for torture, summary trials, forced conversions and burnings at the stake. One victim was the astronomer Galileo, condemned for asserting the Earth revolved around the sun. He was rehabilitated in 1992. ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html