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The term inquisition can refer to either an investigation by the [[Roman Catholic]] Church into heresy, or to the department appointed to perform such investigations. This is currently titled the ''Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith'' since 1965, but was formerly been titled the ''Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office,'' and prior to that the ''Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition.'' Several major inquisitions took place, under the management of differing departments.

<nowiki>The term inquisition can refer to either an investigation by the [[Roman Catholic]] Church into heresy, or to the department appointed to perform such investigations. This is currently titled the ''Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith'' since 1965, but was formerly been titled the ''Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office,'' and prior to that the ''Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition.'' Several major inquisitions took place, under the management of differing departments.

Many of these inquisitions are known to have used brutal torture to extract confessions from accused heretics. While many of these accused heretics would be allowed free after repenting their views and stating their loyalty to the Church, a significant number - consisting almost entirely of those who refused to repent - were executed by a variety of deliberately painful methods including burning at the stake while alive, boiling in oil and the 'breaking wheel.'

Many of these inquisitions are known to have used brutal torture to extract confessions from accused heretics. While many of these accused heretics would be allowed free after repenting their views and stating their loyalty to the Church, a significant number - consisting almost entirely of those who refused to repent - were executed by a variety of deliberately painful methods including burning at the stake while alive, boiling in oil and the 'breaking wheel.'