CATHOLIC EDITION The Myths

• The crusades were barbaric invasions for land, loot, and converts • The inquisition was an orgy of torture and public execution of heretics • The supported slavery • The persecution of Galileo proves the Church is anti-science • Pope Pius XII was an anti-Semitic Nazi sympathizer The Crusades Crusade Myths

• They were an unprovoked attack on a peaceful Muslim world • Crusaders invaded the Holy Land to get rich • Crusaders barbarically raped & murdered women & children • The crusades are responsible for Muslim extremism & terrorism today Build Up to the Crusades

• 1st - 7th Century – Christianity becomes the predominant faith in the Roman Empire

• 612 – Muhammad founds Islam in Arabia

• 632 – Muhammad dies

• 732 – Islam replaces Christianity in Middle East and North Africa Spread of Islam 622-750 Pre-Crusade Timeline

• 714 – Most of Spain under Muslim rule • 732 – Muslim army defeated in France • 831 - 1072 – Muslims held Sicily & parts of • 846 – Muslim sacked • 1009 – Caliph of Egypt destroys Holy Sepulchre • 1038 – Sepulchre rebuilt, pilgrimages allowed • 1055 – SeljukTurks become rulers • 1071 – Turks advance on Constantinople • 1070 – 1095 – Pilgrims harassed & attacked The Crusades

• First (1095) – called by Urban II, liberates the Holy Land • Second (1146) – Pope Eugenius III, called to defend Edessa but never made it that far • Third (1188) – Pope Gregory VIII, called to free Jerusalem, Richard the Lion-Hearted, failed • Fo u rth (1204) – Innocent III, “unmitigated disaster”, sacked Constantinople The Crusades

• Children’s Crusade (1212) –thousands of pre- teens/teens set out to conquer Muslims with love, not arms, many died in route or sold into slavery • Fifth Crusade (1217) – Innocent III, targeted Egypt, St. Francis of Assisi & the Sultan, last one that involved the Church • Sixth (1228), Seventh (1249), Eighth (1270) – lead by Kings without Vatican sanction Crusade Summary

• Primarily defensive against centuries of Muslim aggression • Were ultimately failures (Crusader States 1098-1291) • Lead to bankruptcy for many • Had extremely high casualty rates • Warfare was savage, but not unique for times • Until early 1900’s Muslims didn’t give Crusades much thought The Inquisition Inquisition Myths

• The Church persecuted simple Bible-believing Christians • The Inquisitions were mock trials denying legal protection to innocent defendants • Torture and public executions were rampant • You were assumed guilty until proven guilty • Hundreds of thousands (possibly millions) were put to death Different Inquisitions

• Southern France (1184 – 1230s)

• Spanish Inquisition (1478 - 1834)

• Roman Inquisition (1542 – “present”) Why Inquisitions?

• Purpose of Inquisitions was to establish a legal means of examining and stopping the spread of heresy

• The Church took salvation as life & death matter and heretics threatened the eternal salvation of souls therefore they needed to be stopped

• Always sought repentance & conversion first Deuteronomy 17:2-5

“If there is found among you, in one of your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, a man or woman who does what is evil in the sight of the Lord your God, and transgresses his covenant by going to serve other gods and worshiping them…and if it is reported to you or you hear of it, and you make a thorough inquiry, and the charge is proved true that such an abhorrent thing has occurred in Israel, then you shall bring out to your gates that man or that woman who has committed this crime and you shall stone the man or woman to death.” Spanish

• Ugly truth – Spanish Inquisition was aimed primarily at descendants of Jewish converts (Conversos) to Catholicism due to cultural prejudices

• Late 14th Century Spain had largest Jewish population in Europe when Anti-Jewish riots began and many Jews either fled or converted

• The Converso families eventually fully integrated into Spanish Catholic life Roots of the Inquisition

• By the late 15th Century many “old Christian” families became jealous of the Conversos & began spreading rumors that many were secretly holding Jewish faith

• 1478 King Frederick petitioned Rome for an Inquisition to root out “fake” Catholics & Pope Sixtus IV granted the request in 1482 Executions

• Fewer records for first 50 years, experts estimate up 1,500 people executed • 44,674 cases recorded from 1540-1700 – 826 total executions recorded – Most executions were of repeat offenders • Total estimated executions for entire Spanish Inquisition is about 1,700 (under 10/year) – Henry VIII executed an estimated 60,000 people during his 37 year reign To r t u r e

• All Medieval European courts utilized torture methods • Inquisition was bound by Church law – Only 1 session not to exceed 15 minutes – No damage to life or limb – No blood could be shed • Records show only 2% of cases used torture • Criminals in Spain would blaspheme in court to have their cases transferred to the Inquisition Who Was Targeted?

• 52% - Crypto-Jews • 29% - Crypto-Muslims • 8% - Protestants • 6% - Bigamy • 3% - Priests violating celibacy • 1% - Sodomy • 1% - Bestiality Unexpected Protection

• Those accused of homosexuality were not to be prosecuted unless accused of heresy

• Inquisition acted to suppress Witch Hunts/Trials – Most were in Protestant areas – Recognized most “witchcraft” was uninformed superstition – From 1540-1640 only 12 executions – In Barcelona those who conducted hunts were punished Slavery Slavery Myths

• The Catholic Church taught that slavery was morally acceptable • The Church was supportive of slavery in the New World • At a minimum the Church failed to condemn slavery giving consent by its silence Round One

• All Classical societies were slave societies • 1st time slavery was abolished was by the Catholic Church during the so-called “Dark Ages” – Allowed sacraments for slaves – Encouraged owners to free them for sake of souls – Mixed marriages: Clovis II to Bathilda • St. Bathilda, after Clovis’ death, abolished slavery • Charlemagne, St. Wulfstan, St. Anslem (9th C) • Thomas Aquinas – slavery violates natural law Round Two

• European exploration reignited slave trade • Not all Popes lived up to official teaching • Eugene IV (1430s) – slave trade carried punishment of excommunication • Pius II (1450s) & Sixtus IV (1470s) • Paul III (1530s) – two edicts – Slavery is from Satan & Indians are “true men” • Urban VIII (1630s) - excommunication Falling on Deaf Ears

• Period of papal weakness

• Spanish sacked Rome in 1527

• Illegal to publish papal decrees in Spanish lands Slave Codes

• Code Noir & Código Negro Española • State codes in Catholic countries (France & Spain) – Baptism & religious instruction of slaves – Holy matrimony & ban on breaking up families – Exempted from work on Sundays & holy days – Slaves could be paid by working on their days off – Slaves could purchase their freedom – Masters subject to punishment for violations/abuses Did Slave Codes Matter?

• Protestant territories had no such provisions – Illegal to baptize or marry – Owners prevented from freeing slaves – Could apply “unlimited force to compel labor”

• US Census of 1830 (Black Population) – Free men: LA 13.2%, AL 1.3%, GA 1.1%, MS 0.8% – New Orleans 41.7% – Charleston 6.4% (highest of all other major southern cities) Jesuits in South America

• Jesuit Republic of Paraguay, est. 1609 • Established 30 “Reductions” (communities) • Paved streets, large buildings • Symphony orchestras • Stated purpose: – Evangelize native population – “Civilize” so they could be free societies – Seek peace between native & European cultures Galileo Galileo Myths

• The Church tortured and imprisoned Galileo for his scientific discovery that the earth revolved around the sun • Galileo proves that the Church is anti-science • The true pursuit of scientific knowledge and discovery had to wait until the Enlightenment when man broke free from religion Just the Facts

• Geocentric or Heliocentric? – Nicolaus Copernicus (1543) – Galileo Galilei (1632)

• Obstacles to Heliocentric Theory – Most scholars of the day were geocentric – Mathematical & Observational inconsistencies Pride Comes Before the Fall

• Context of the Times – Reformation & Counter-Reformation, 30 Years War – Authority of scripture and theology • Fact or Theory – Pope asked scientists to phrase conclusions as hypothetical to avoid theological implications • Dialogue Concerning Two Chief World Systems – “Simplicio” seen as insult against the Pope Fa l l o u t

• Galileo summoned to Roman Inquisition • Placed under house arrest (in a mansion with servants) • Most of Galileo’s theories were ultimately proven wrong by science • Galileo himself remained deeply religious Anti-Science? Nope

• University & Hospital Systems • Roger Bacon (13th C) – scientific method • Nicolas Steno (14th C) – anatomy, geology • Leonardo da Vinci (15th C) – scientific revolution • Blaise Pascal (17th C) – probability theory • Gregor Mendel (19th C) – genetics • Louis Pasteur (19th C) – microbiology • Georges Lemaitre (20th C) – big bang theory Hitler’s Pope Pius XII Myths

• Pius XII was anti-Semitic & Nazi sympathizer

• The silence of Pius XII and the Catholic Church resulted in the deaths of millions of Jews

• The Catholic Church did nothing to stop NYT Headlines

• 10/28/39 – “Pope Condemns Dictators, Treaty Violators, Racism”

• 8/6/42 – “Pope Is Said to Plead for Jews Listed for Removal from France”

• 8/27/42 – “Vichy Seizes Jews: Pope Pius Ignored” NYT Editorial

• 12/25/41 – “The voice of Pius XII is a lonely voice in the silence and darkness enveloping Europe this Christmas…he is about the only ruler left on the Continent of Europe who dares raise his voice at all…the pope put himself squarely against Hitlerism…he left no doubt that the Nazi claims are also irreconcilable with his own conception of a Christian peace.” Jewish Voices

• “The Holy See is lending its powerful help wherever it can, to mitigate the fate of my persecuted co- religionists” Chaim Weizman • “My first duty was to thank him, and through him the Catholic Church…for all they had done in various countries to rescue Jews” Moshe Sharett • “When our people went through the horrors of martyrdom, the Pope raised his voice to condemn the persecutors…” Golda Meir Hitler Hated Pius XII & The Church

• Closed all Catholic schools • Arrested & murdered thousands of priests & religious in concentration camps • 1942 printed 10 million copies of a pamphlet accusing Pius of being “pro-Jewish pope” • 1943 developed a plot to kidnap Pius XII that was only canceled when Allies took control of Italy What Happened?

• 1944 Izvestia (official party news of the USSR) printed a story claiming Pius XII supported the Nazis • 1963 “The Deputy” a play by Rolf Hochhuth opens in Germany then London & Broadway • 1999 “Hitler’s Pope” by John Cornwell is published • 2007 Operation Seat 21 revealed by former head of Romanian secret service Pius & The Jews

• Between 700,000 to 860,000 Jews were saved by efforts led by Pius • Buildings in Vatican, numerous churches, Castle Gandolfo were used to hide Jews • Israel Zolli, rabbi of the synagogue in Rome, converted to Catholicism & took Pius’ baptismal name Euginio as his own in 1944 Why Was Pius “Quiet”?

• Concern that being too vocal would result in greater persecution • Concern that it would draw more attention to Catholic churches and leaders in Nazi areas • To maintain neutrality of • Realization that Hitler would not suddenly change course based on condemnation from the pope One More Reason

• “The last day during the war when Pius publicly said the word ‘Jew’ is also, in fact, the first day history can document his choice to help kill Hitler.” • Pius was covertly working with German resistance & Allied leaders & approved of assassination plots • Used network of Jesuits & Dominicans as spies • Hitler survived several assassination attempts • Pope & Vatican worked to assist in coup against Mussolini in Italy Conclusions

• Has the Catholic Church always, perfectly lived out the faith? No.

• The Church is a perfect institution filled with imperfect people

• Many “myths” have elements of truth, but were exaggerated (or fabricated) by enemies of the faith

• Good to know the whole truth, but we shouldn’t shy away from apologizing if needed Secrets, Visions, and Miracles The True Story of Fatima

Tuesday, April 25 Ÿ 7pm Ÿ St. Thomas Aquinas Room Resources

• Bearing False Witness: Debunking Centuries of Anti- Catholic History by Rodney Stark • The Seven Big Myths About the Catholic Church by Christopher Kaczor • The Myth of Hitler’s Pope by David Dalin • Church of Spies by Mark Riebling • Catholic Answers Tracts – http://catholic.com/tract • http://mentalfloss.com/article/70776/when-pope-ordered- death-adolf-hitler • http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/column/four-myths-about- the-crusades-1562/