Historically, the Inquisition was established for the dual purpose of detecting and punishing heretics. Established in 1232, when sectarian groups were not only challenging the authority and teachings of Catholic Church but also the very stability of the contemporary society as well.
A further reading of history will show that thousands of people were persecuted, tortured and even burned alive all in the name of the Inquisition. Historical figures that personally suffered the attention of the Inquisition include Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei and even Joan of Arc.
To this day, the Inquisition still lives. Though the name is already changed (it is now known as the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith). The function is still basically the same minus the notoriety that it earned during the height of its influence.
The Inquisition was so notorious that the Catholic Church needed to formally apologize for its excesses.
The Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith no longer burn, torture nor persecute people who disagrees with the Catholic Church. But it can still excommunicate wayward and misguided members of the Catholic fold.
In fact, the last person to head the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was recently elected as pope. Yes, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger once directed and steered the wheel of the vehicle, which was at one time tagged as the Inquisition.
Though it is neither a credit nor a discredit to Pope Benedict XVI, such a former position indicates the conservative leanings of the present Holy See. Talk of allowing the clergy to get married, of allowing divorce and/or allowing the usage of artificial birth control (for the laity) will just have to wait until another pope is elected. The newly crowned Holy See is an ardent defender of the catholic doctrine.
Change will just have to wait a little longer...
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