Changes

In 1545, the Catholic Church convened the Council of Trent to address Protestantism, and the Council deliberated until 1563 -- nearly 20 years.  The Council banned the sale of any indulgences.  The Council affirmed the Church’s view that the Bible and Church were of equal authority, and that the Church’s interpretation of the Bible was the final authority.  Both faith and good works were necessary for salvation under Church doctrine.  The Council also created an Index of Forbidden Books, which listed books that Catholics were not to read.  This Index remained in effect until 1966, when the Second Vatican Council abolished it.  In sum, the Catholic Church reaffirmed its basic doctrines in its response to the Reformation.

In 1545, the Catholic Church convened the Council of Trent to address Protestantism, and the Council deliberated until 1563 -- nearly 20 years.  The Council banned the sale of any indulgences.  The Council affirmed the Church’s view that the Bible and Church were of equal authority, and that the Church’s interpretation of the Bible was the final authority.  Both faith and good works were necessary for salvation under Church doctrine.  The Council also created an Index of Forbidden Books, which listed books that Catholics were not to read.  This Index remained in effect until 1966, when the Second Vatican Council abolished it.  In sum, the Catholic Church reaffirmed its basic doctrines in its response to the Reformation.

Meanwhile, Ignatius of Loyola had founded the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1534.  This group ambitiously embarked on the Counter-Reformation to invigorate the Catholic Church against the threat of the Reformation.  The Jesuits founded numerous schools and colleges throughout Europe (and later in the United States), established many missions to faraway lands, and worked to stop the spread of Protestantism.  The Jesuits accepted only the smartest and hardest working priests into their order, and to this day it is considered a special honor in the Catholic Church to become a Jesuit.  The Jesuit schools brought many families to the Catholic Church for hundreds of years, though in recent times many of these schools (like Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.) have been criticized for losing their commitment to basic Christian principles like pro-life.  President Bill Clinton, a pro-abortion politician, graduated from Georgetown University and was guided and promoted by a liberal Georgetown professor.  

Meanwhile, Ignatius of Loyola had founded the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in 1534.  This group ambitiously embarked on the Counter-Reformation to invigorate the Catholic Church against the threat of the Reformation.  The Jesuits founded numerous schools and colleges throughout Europe (and later in the United States), established many missions to faraway lands, and worked against the spread of Protestantism.  The Jesuits accepted only the smartest and hardest working priests into their order, and to this day it is considered a special honor in the Catholic Church to become a Jesuit.  The Jesuit schools brought many families to the Catholic Church for hundreds of years, though in recent times many of these schools (like Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.) have been criticized for losing their commitment to basic Christian principles like pro-life.  President Bill Clinton, a pro-abortion politician, was inspired, guided and promoted by a liberal Georgetown professor while Clinton attended college there.

Recall that Christianity had reconverted Spain after a period of Muslim rule, and in 1478 Pope Sixtus IV authorized a council in Spain under the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand II and Isabella I to fight heresy.  Contrary to popular belief today, the initial focus was on what converted Muslims and Jews were saying about Christianity.  Torquemada was the first Grand Inquisitor.  Critics today make a big deal about how torture was used by the Grand Inquisitor, but torture was used by virtually all civil authorities in that time, usually as a threat to discourage lying by witnesses (perjury).  Torture could be applied only once and could not endanger life or limb.  Pope Sixtus IV did complain that torture was being used too often, but the Spanish King and Queen who were trying to extricate Islam ignored the complaints by the pope.

Recall that Christianity had reconverted Spain after a period of Muslim rule, and in 1478 Pope Sixtus IV authorized a council in Spain under the Catholic monarchs Ferdinand II and Isabella I to fight heresy.  Contrary to popular belief today, the initial focus was to combat heresy.  Defendants were given an opportunity to recant their disfavored interpretations of Christian doctrine before being burned at the stake.  Torquemada was the first Grand Inquisitor.  Critics today make a big deal about how torture was used by the Grand Inquisitor, but torture was used by virtually all civil authorities in that time, usually as a threat to discourage lying by witnesses (perjury).  Torture could be applied only once and could not endanger life or limb.  Pope Sixtus IV did complain that torture was being used too often, but the Spanish King and Queen who were trying to extricate Islam ignored the complaints by the pope.

    

    

The Muslim empire continued to threaten Spain and repeatedly attempted to reconquer it from Muslim strongholds in northern Africa.  It was not until 1492 that the armies of Ferdinand and Isabella were able to defeat the last Muslim fighters in Spain.  But they feared the continuing threat and told the Muslim Moors to convert to Christianity or leave.  There was a small but influential Jewish community that thrived within the Muslim society at the time, and the order to convert or leave applied to them also.

The Muslim empire continued to threaten Spain and repeatedly attempted to reconquer it from Muslim strongholds in northern Africa.  It was not until 1492 that the armies of Ferdinand and Isabella were able to defeat the last Muslim fighters in Spain.  But they feared the continuing threat and told the Muslim Moors to convert to Christianity or leave.  There was a small but influential Jewish community that thrived within the Muslim society at the time, and the order to convert or leave applied to them also.