OneworldunderGod
It's flat!
CHURCH HISTORY 6-10 (My words in red)
CHURCH HISTORY
6
LIST OF POPES AND THE PAPACY
The Papacy was a Gradual Development
First appearing as World Power in 6th century,
Reaching Height of its Power in 13th century,
Declining in Power from 13th century to present time.
Original Mission of the Church
The Church was founded, not as an institution of Authority to compel the world to live up to Christ's teachings, but only as a Witness-Bearing institution to Christ, to hold Him before the people. Christ Himself, not the Church, is the transforming power in human life. But the Church was founded in the days of the Roman Empire, and it gradually took to itself a form of government like the political world in which it existed, and became a vast autocratic organization ruled from the top.
Original Form of Church Government
At the close of the apostolic age churches were independent one of another, each being governed by a board of pastors. Precedence was given to one who came to be called Bishop; the others, later, were called Presbyters. Gradually the jurisdiction of Bishop included neighboring towns.
The First Pope
The word "pope" means "papa," "father." At first it was applied to all western bishops. About 500 A D it began to be restricted to the Bishop of Rome, and soon came to mean, in common use, "Universal Father," that is, Bishop over the Whole Church. The Roman Catholic list of Popes includes the Bishops of Rome from the 1st century onward. But for 500 years the Bishops of Rome were NOT Popes, that is, "Universal Bishops." The idea that the Roman Bishop should have Authority over the Whole Church was a slow growth, bitterly contested at every step, and never has, at any time, been universally recognized.
Peter
The Roman Catholic tradition that Peter was the First Pope is a fiction pure and simple.
There is no historical evidence whatever that he was ever bishop of Rome. Nor did he ever claim for himself such Authority as his "Successors" have claimed. It seems that Peter had a divine foreboding that his "Successors" would be mainly concerned with "Lording it over God's flock, rather than showing themselves examples." (I Peter 5:3.)
Early Roman Bishops
Linus, 67-79 A D ?. Cletus, 79-91, ?.
Clement, 91-100, wrote a letter to the Corinthian church, in the name of the Roman church, not in his own name, and it has no hint ofpapal authority such as later popes assumed.
Evaristus, 100-09. Alexander I, 109-19. Sixtus I, 119-28.
Telesphorus, 128-39. Hyginus, 139-42. Pius I, 142-54.
Beginning of Rome's Domineering Policy
Anicetus, Bishop of Rome, 154-68 AD, tried to influence Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, to change the date of Easter observance; but Polycarp refused to yield.
Soter, 168-76. Eleutherus, 177-90.
Victor I, 190-202, threatened to excommunicate the Eastern churches for celebrating Easter on the 14th of Nisan. Polycrates, Bishop of Ephesus, replied that he was not afraid of Victor's threats, and asserted his independent authority. Iranaeus, of Lyons, tho a Western bishop and in sympathy with the Western viewpoint on Easter observance (that is, the week-day rather than the month-day), rebuked Victor for trying to dictate to the Eastern churches.
Zephyrinus, 202-18,
Growing Influence of Rome
Calixtus I, 218-23, was the first to base his claim on Mt 16:18.
Tertullian, of Carthage, called him a usurper in speaking as if he were bishop of bishops.
Urban I, 223-30. Pontianus, 230-5. Anterus, 235-6.
Fabian, 236-50. Cornelius, 251-2. Lucius I, 252-3.
Stephen I, 253-7, objected to certain baptismal practices in the North African Church. Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, contended that each bishop was supreme in his own diocese, and refused to yield to Stephen. Nevertheless, the feeling grew that Rome, the Capital City should be the Head of the Church even as it was Head of the Empire.
Sixtus II, 257-8. Dionysius, 259-69. Felix I, 269-74.
Eutychianus, 275-83. Caius, 283-96. Marcellinus, 296-304.
Marcellus, 308-9. Eusebius, 309-10. Miltiades, 311-14.
Union of Church and State
Silvester I, 314-35, was Bishop of Rome when, under Constantine, Christianity was virtually made the State Religion of the Roman Empire. The Church immediately became an institution of vast importance in world politics. Constantine regarded himself as Head of the Church. He called the Council of Nicaea, 325, and presided over it, the First World Council of the Church. This Council accorded the Bishops of Alexandria and Antioch full jurisdiction over their Provinces, even as the Roman Bishop had over his, with NOT EVEN A HINT that they were subject to Rome.
Marcus, 336-7.
Julius I, 337-52. The Council of Sardica, 343. composed of Western churchmen only, not an Ecumenical council, was the First Council to recognize the authority of the Roman Bishop.
The Five Patriarchs
By the end of the 4th century the churches and bishops of Christendom had come to be very largely dominated from FIVE great centers, Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria, whose Bishops had come to be called PATRIARCHS, of equal authority one with another, each having full control in his own Province. After the Division of the Empire, 395. into the East and the West, the Patriarchs of Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria gradually acknowledged the leadership of Constantinople; and henceforth the struggle for the leadership of Christendom was between Rome and Constantinople.
Note:
310 A.D. Doctrine of prayers for the dead and sign of the cross. Both began 300 years after Jesus Christ.
321 A.D. Wax candles introduced about tampering with the Law of God (Exodus 20:3-17
CHURCH HISTORY
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LIST OF THE POPES AND THE PAPACY 2
Division of the Roman Empire
Liberius, 352-66 AD. Damascus, 366-84. Siricius, 385-98, claimed universal jurisdiction over the church, but unfortunately for him, in his day, the Empire divided, 395, into two separate Empires, East and West, which made it all the more difficult for the Roman Bishop to get the East to recognize his authority.
Augustine's "City of God"
Anastasius, 398-402. Innocent I, 402-17, called himself "Ruler of the Church of God," and claimed the right to settle the more important matters of controversy in the whole church.
Zosimus, 417-8. Boniface, 418-22. Coelestine I, 422-32.
Sixtus III, 432-40. The Western Empire was now rapidly dissolving amid the storms of the Barbarian migration; and in the distress and anxiety of the times Augustine wrote his monumental work, the "City of God," in which he envisioned a Universal Christian Empire. This book had vast influence in molding opinion favorable to a Universal Church Hierarchy under one Head. This promoted Rome's claim.
Imperial Recognition of the Pope's Claim
Leo I, 440-61, called by some historians the First Pope. The misfortunes of the Empire were the Pope's opportunity. The East was rent with controversies; the West, under weak Emperors, was breaking up before the Barbarians. The Pope was the one strong man of the hour. Leo, 452, persuaded Atilla the Hun to spare the city of Ronsie. Later, 455, he induced Genseric the Vandal to have mercy on the city. This greatly enhanced his reputation. Leo claimed that he was, by divine appointment. Primate of all bishops; and obtained Imperial Recognition for his claim from Emperor Valentinian III, 445. He proclaimed himself Lord of the Whole Church; advocated exclusive universal papacy; said that resistence to his authority was a sure way to hell; advocated the death penalty for heresy. The Council of Chalcedon, 451, the Fourth Ecumenical Council, composed of the assembled bishops of the world, in spite of the Emperor's act, gave the Patriarch of Constantinople EQUAL PREROGATIVES with the Patriarch of Rome.
Fall of Rome
Hilarus, 461-8. Simplicius, 468-83, was Roman Pope when the Western Empire came to an end, 476. This left the Popes free from civil authority. The various new small kingdoms of the Barbarians into which the West was now broken furnished the Popes opportunity for advantageous alliances, and gradually the Pope became the most commanding figure in the West.
Felix III, 483-92. Gelasius I, 492-6. Anastasius II, 496-8. Symmachus, 498-514. Hormisdas, 514-23.
John I, 523-5.
Felix IV, 526-30. Boniface II, 530-2. John II, 532-5. Agapetus I, 535-6
Silverius, 536-40. Vigilius, 540-54. Pelagius I, 555-60. John III, 560-73. Benedict I, 574-8.
Pelagius II, 578-90.
Note:
375 A.D. Veneration of angels and dead saints
394 A.D. The mass was adopted as a daily celebration
431 A.D. The worship of Mary, the mother of Jesus and applying the term "Mother of God," to her,
originated in the Council of Ephesus (Queen of Heaven, Jeremiah 7:18
500 A.D. Priest began to dress differently from the laity
The First Real Pope
GREGORY I, 590-604 AD, generally regarded as the First Pope. He appeared at a time of political anarchy and great public distress thruout Europe. Italy, after the fall of Rome, 476, had become a Gothic kingdom; later a Byzantine province under control of the Eastern Emperor; now being pillaged by the Lombards. Gregory's influence over the various kings had a stabilizing effect. He established for himself complete control over the churches of Italy, Spain, Gaul, and England (whose conversion to Christianity was the great event of Gregory's times). Labored untiringly for the purification of the church; deposed neglectful or unworthy bishops, and opposed with great zeal the practice of simony (sale of office). He exerted great influence in the East, altho he did not claim jurisdiction over the Eastern Church. The Patriarch of Constantinople called himself "Universal Bishop." This greatly irritated Gregory, who rejected the title as a "vicious and haughty word," and refused to allow it to be applied to himself; yet he practically exercised all the authority the title stood for. In his personal life he was a good man, one of the purest and best of Popes; untiring in his efforts for justice to the oppressed, and unbounded in his charities to the poor. If all Popes had been such as he what a different estimate the world would have of the Papacy.
Sabinlanus, 604-6. Boniface III, 607. Boniface IV, 608-14. Deusdedit, 615-8. Boniface V, 619-25.
Honorius I, 625-38. Severinus, 640. John IV, 640-2. Theodore I, 642-9. Martin I, 649-53.
Eugenius I, 654-7. Vitalianus, 657-72. Adeodatus, 672-6. Donus I, 676-8. Agatho, 678-82.
Leo II, 682-3, pronounced Honorius I a "heretic." Strange: one "infallible" pope calls another "infallible" pope a "heretic." But then perchance the popes did not become "infallible" till the Vatican Council, 1870, made them so.
Benedict II, 684-5. John V, 685-6. Cono, 686-7. Theodorus, 687. Sergius I, 687-701. John VI, 701-5. John VII, 705-7. Sisinnius, 708. Constantine, 708-15. Gregory II, 715-31. Gregory III, 731-41.
Note:
593 A.D. The doctrine of purgatory was first established by Gregory the Great
600 A.D. The Latin language imposed as the language of prayer and worship in service by
Pope Gregory
The Bible teaches that we pray to God alone. In the primitive church, prayers were never directed to Mary or to dead saints. ( Matt 11:28 Luke 1:46 Acts 10:25-26 Acts 14:14-18)
709 A.D. The kissing of the Pope's feet. It had been a pagan custom to kiss the feet of emperors. The
Word of God forbids such practices. ( Acts 10:25-26 Rev. 19:10 Rev. 22:9 )
The Pope Becomes an Earthly King
Zacharias, 741-52, was instrumental in making Pepin (father of Charlemagne) King of the Franks (a Germanic people occupying W Germany and N France).
Stephen II, 752-7. At his request, Pepin, in turn, led his army to Italy, conquered the Lombards, and gave their lands (a large part of Italy) to the Pope. This was the beginning of the "PAPAL STATES", or "TEMPORAL DOMINION" of the Popes. Civil Control of Rome and Central Italy by the Popes, thus established by Zacharias and Stephen, and recognized by Pepin, 754, was later confirmed by Charlemagne, 774. Central Italy, once the Head of the Roman Empire, then a Gothic kingdom, then a Byzantine province, now became the PAPAL KINGDOM ruled by the "Head" of the Church. Lasted 1100 years, till 1870.
Paul I, 757-67. Stephen III, 768-72. Adrian I, 772-95.
Note:
750 A.D. The temporal power of the popes. Jesus forbade such worldly kingships.
( Matt 4:8-9 Matt 20:25-26 John 18:38 )
788 A.D. Worship of the cross, of images and relics. This was ordered by Dowager Empress Irene of
Constantinople, who first caused to be plucked the eyes of her own son, Constantine VI and then called a church council at the request of Roman Pope Hadrian I. Such practices are
severely condemned as idolatry. ( Exodus 20:4 Deut. 27:15 Pslam 115 )
CHURCH HISTORY
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LIST OF THE POPES AND THE PAPACY 3
Papal Power Greatly Promoted by Charlemagne
LEO III, 795-816 AD, in return for Charlemagne's recognition, 774, of the Pope's Temporal Power over the Papal States, conferred on Charlemagne, 800, the title of "Roman Emperor," thus com.bining the Roman and Frank realms into the "HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE," and thus transferring the Capital from Constantinople to Aix-la-Chapelle in Western Germany. Charlemagne (742-814), King of the Franks, grandson of Charles Martel (who had saved Europe from the Mohammedans), was one of the greatest rulers of all time. He reigned 46 years, and made many wars and conquests of vast magnitude. His realm included what is modern Germany, France, Switzerland, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, and parts of Spain and Italy. He helped the Pope, and the Pope helped him. HE V/AS ONE OF THE GREATEST INFLUENCES in bringing the PAPACY to a position of WORLD POWER. Soon after his death, by the treaty of Verdun, 843, his Empire was divided into what became the foundations of modern Germany, France, and Italy; and hsnceforth, for centuries, there was ceaseless struggle between Popes and German and French Kings for Supremacy.
"The Holy Roman Empire"
Thus established by Charlemagne and Leo III, was Rome's decoration of independence of Constantinople, and the re-establishment of the Western Empire, with German Kings on the throne bearing the title of "Caesar," which was conferred by the Popes, supposed to be a continuation of the Old Roman Empire. This Empire was to be under the joint control of the Popes and the German Emperors, the Emperors having control in temporal matters and the Popes in spiritual matters. But inasmuch as the Church was a State institution jurisdiction was not always easy to define, and the arrangement resulted in many bitter struggles between Emperors and Popes. The Holy Roman Empire, a "name rather than an accomplished fact," lived a thousand years, and was brought to an end by Napoleon, 1806. It served its purpose in blending the Roman and German civilizations. "Into this Empire all the life of the ancient world was gathered; out of it the life of the modern world arose."—Bryce.
Stephen IV, 816-7. Pascal I, 817-24. Eugene II, 824-7. Valentine, 827. Gregory IV, 827-44.
Sergius II, 844-7. Leo IV, 847-55. Benedict III, 855-8.
Pseudo-lsidorian Decretals Help Papacy
NICOLAS, I, 858-67, greatest Pope between Gregory 1 and Gregory VII. First Pope to wear a Crown. To promote his claim of universal authority he used with great effect the "PSEUDO-ISIDORIAN DECRETALS," a book that appeared about 857, containing documents that purported to be letters and decrees of bishops and councils of the 2nd and 3rd centuries, all tending to exalt the power of the Pope. They were deliberate forgeries and corruptions of ancient historical documents, but their spurious character was not discovered till some centuries later. Whether Nicolas knew them to be forgeries, at least he lied in stating that they had been kept in the archives of the Roman Church from ancient times. But they served their purpose in "stamping the claims of the medieval priesthood with the authority of antiquity." "The Papacy, which was the growth of several centuries, was made to appear as something complete and unchangable from the very beginning." They included the "Donation of Constantine," which represented him as giving the Roman Bishop the Western Provinces with all the imperial insignia. "The object was to ante-date by 5 centuries the Pope's Temporal Power, which in fact rested on the donations of Pepin and Charlemagne." "The most colossal literary fraud in history." "It strengthened the Papacy more than any other one agency, and forms to large extent the basis of the canon law of the Roman Church."
Note:
850 A.D. Holy water, mixed with a pinch of salt and blessing by the priest was authorized.
The Great Cleavage of Christendom
Nicolas undertook to interfere in the affairs of the Eastern Church. He excommunicated Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople, who in turn excommunicated him. The Division of Christendom followed, 869 (completed 1054). Altho the Empire had been divided since 395, and altho there had been a long and bitter struggle between the Pope of Rome and the Patriarch of Constantinople for supremacy, yet the Church had remained ONE. The Councils had been attended by representatives both of the East and the West. For the first 6 centuries the East had represented the main current of life, and was the most important part of the Church. All Ecumenical Councils had been held in or near Constantinople, and in the Greek language; and there the doctrinal controversies had been fought out. But now at last the Pope's insistent claim of being Lord of Christendom had become unbearable, and the East definitely separated itself. The Council of Constantinople, 869, was the last Ecumenical Council. Henceforth the Greek Church had its Councils, and the Roman Church has its Councils. And the breach has grown wider with the centuries. The brutal treatment of Constantinople by the armies of Pope Innocent III during the Crusades embittered the East all the more; and the creation of the dogma of Papal Infallibility in 1870 further deepened the chasm. Christendom, thus rent in twain, experienced another great cleavage in the 16th century, under the leadership of Martin Luther, over THE SAME CAUSE, the Pope's determination to Lord it over God's people.
The Darkest Period of the Papacy
Adrian II, 867-72. John VIII, 872-82.
Marinus, 882-4. With these Popes began the DARKEST PERIOD of the Papacy, 870-1050. The 200 years between Nicolas I and Gregory VII is called by historians the "Midnight of the Dark Ages." Bribery, Corruption, Immorality and Bloodshed make it just about the blackest chapter in the whole history of the Church.
Adrian III, 884-5. Stephen V, 885-91. Formosus, 891-6. Boniface VI, 896. Stephen VI, 896-7.
Romanus, 897. Theodore II, 898. John IX, 898-900. Benedict IV, 900-3. Leo V. 903. Christopher, 903-4.
Note:
890 A. D. Veneration of St. Joseph
CHURCH HISTORY
9
LIST OF THE POPES ANP THE PAPACY 4
"Rule of the Harlots"
Sergius III, 904-11 AD, had a mistress, Marozia. She, her mother Theodora (wife or widow of a Roman Senator), and her sister, "filled the papa! chair with their paramours and bastard sons, and turned the papal palace into a den of robbers." This is known in history as the PORNOCRACY, or RULE OF THE HARLOTS (904-963).
Anastasius III, 911-3. Lando, 913-4. John X, 914-28, "was brought from Ravenna to Rome and made Pope by Theodora (who had also other paramours) for the more convenient gratification of her passion." He was smothered to death by Marozia, who, then, in succession, raised to the Papacy her creatures,
Leo VI, 928-9, and Stephen VII, 929-31, and John XI, 931-6, her own illegitimate son. Another of her sons appointed the four following.
Leo VII, 936-9, Stephen VIII, 939-42,
Martin III, 942-6, and Agapetus II, 946-55.
John XII, 955-63, a grandson of Marozia, was "guilty of almost every crime; violated virgins and widows, high and low; lived with his father's mistress; made the papal palace a brothel; was killed while in the act of adultery by the woman's enraged husband."
The Depths of Papal Degradation
Leo VIII, 963-5. John XIII, 965-72. Benedict VI, 972-4. Donus 11, 974. Benedict VII, 975-83.
John XIV, 983-4. Boniface VII, 984-5, murdered Pope John XIV, and "maintained himself on the blood-stained papal throne by a lavish distribution of stolen money." The Bishop of Orleans, referring to John XII, Leo VIII, and Boniface VII, called them "monsters of guilt, reeking in blood and filth; Anti-Christ sitting in the Temple of God."
John XV, 985-96. Gregory V, 996-9. Sylvester II, 999-1003. John XVII, 1003. John XVIII, 1003-9.
IV, 1009-12. Benedict VIII, 1012-24, bought the office of Pope with open bribery. This was called "SIMONY," that is, the purchase or sale of church office with money.
John XIX, 1024-33, bought the papacy. He was a layman, and passed thru ail the clerical degrees in one day.
Benedict IX, 1033-45, was made Pope as a boy 12 years old, thru a money bargain with the powerful families that ruled Rome. "Surpassed John XII in wickedness; committed murders and adulteries in broad daylight; robbed pilgrims on the graves of martyrs; a hideous criminal, the people drove him out of Rome."
Gregory VI, 1045-6, bought the Papacy. Three rival Popes, Benedict IX, Gregory VI, Sylvester III. "Rome swarmed with hired assassins; the virtue of pilgrims was violated; even the churches were desecrated with bloodshed."
Clement II, 1046-7, was appointed Pope by Emperor Henr/ III of Germany "because no Roman clergyman could be found who was free of the pollution of simony and fornication." The revolting situation cried for reform.
Damascus II, 1048. Loud protests against Papal filth and infamy, and the cry for Reform found an answer and a leader in Hildebrand.
Note:
965 A. D. Baptism of bells instituted by Pope John XIV
995 A.D. Canonization of dead saints, by Pope John XV. Every believer and follower of Christ is called
a saint in the Bible ( Romans 1:7 1 Corinthians 1:2 )
700 A.D. Fasting on Fridays and during Lent was imposed by popes said to be interested in the fish
commerce. This against the plain teaching of the gospel
( Matt 15:11 1 Corinthians 10: 25 1 Timothy 4:1-8)
The mass gradually developed into a sacrifice: attendance was made obligatory in the
11th century. The Bible says the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was offered once and for all.
It was never to be repeated, but commemorated in the Lord's supper 0observance.
( Hebrews 7: 27 Hebrews 9: 26-28 Hebrews 10: 10-14 ) see: The EUCHARIST
1079 A.D. Celibacy of the priesthood was decreed by Pope Hildebrand, Boniface VII. Jesus imposed
no such rule, nor did any of the apostles. On the contrary, Peter was a married man, and
Paul says that bishops were to have wives and children ( 1 Timothy 3:2-5, 12 Matt 8:14-15 )
Golden Age of Papal Power
Hildebrand, small of stature, ungainly in appearance, feeble in voice, yet great in intellect, fiery in spirit, aetermined, a man of "blood and iron," and a zealous advocate of papal absolutism, associated himself with the Reform Party, and led the Papacy into its GOLDEN AGE (1049-1294). He controlled the five successive Papal administrations immediately preceding his own;
Leo IX, 1049-54; Victor II, 1055-7, last of German Popes; Stephen IX, 1057-8; Nicolas II, 1059-61, under whose administration the election of Popes was taken from the Emperor and put in the hands of Cardinals (Popes ever since, with few exceptions (as Avignon Popes), have been chosen from Roman clergy); Alexander II, 1061-73. GREGORY VII (Hildebrand), 1073-85. His great object was to reform the clergy. The two prevailing sins of the clergy were Immorality and Simony. To cure their Immorality Gregory militantly insisted on their Celibacy. To cure them of Simony (purchase of church office with money) he resisted the right of the Emperor to appoint church officers. Practically all Bishops and Priests had paid for their office, for the church owned half of all property and had rich incomes, and it was a chance to live in luxury. Kings habitually sold church offices to the highest bidder, regardless of fitness or character. This brought Gregory into bitter contest with Henry IV, Emperor of Germany. He deposed Gregory. Gregory in turn, excommunicated and deposed Henry. War followed. For years Italy was devastated by the opposing armies. Gregory in the end was driven from Rome and died in exile. But he had in great measure made the Papacy independent of the Imperial power. He repeatedly had called himself "Overlord of Kings and Princes," and made good his claim.
Victor III, 1086-7. Urban II, 1088-99, continued the war with the Emperor; became leader in the Crusade Movement, which more and more added to the Papacy's leadership of Christendom.
Pascal II, 1099-1118, continued the war with the German Emperor over the right of Church Appointments.
Gelasius II, 1118-9. Calixtus II, 1119-24, in the concordat of Worms, 1122, reached a compromise with the German Emperor, which brought peace after 50 years' war.
Honorius II, 1124-30. Innocent II, 1130-43, maintained his office by armed force against anti-Pope Anacletus II, who had been chosen by certain powerful families in Rome.
Celestine II, 1143-4. Lucius II, 1144-5. Eugene III, 1145-53. Anastasius IV. 1153-4.
Adrian IV, 1154-9, only English Pope, gave Ireland to the King of England, and authorized him to take possession; this authorization was renewed by the next Pope, Alexander III, and carried out in 1171.
Alexander III, 1159-81, greatest Pope between Gregory VII and Innocent III, in conflict with four anti-Popes, renewed the war for supremacy with the German Emperor. Frederick Barbarossa, who, after five campaigns and many pitched battles between his armies and the papal armies and their allies, with terrible slaughter, made the Peace of Venice, 1177. Alexander was driven from Rome by the people, and died in exile, as many other Popes had been.
Lucius III, 1181-5. Urban III, 1185-7. Gregory VIII, 1187. Clement III, 1187-91.
Celestine 131, 1191-8.
Note:
1090 A.D. The rosary, or prayer beads, was introduced by Peter the Hermit. Copied from the
Mohammandans and the Hindus.
1184 A.D. The inquisition of heretics was instituted by the Council of VI.
( Today it is known by the Congregation for the doctrine of faith )
1190 A.D. The sale of indulgences, was a purchase of forgiveness and a permit to indulge in sin.
Protest against this unscriptural practice triggered the Protestant Reformation in the
16th century.
CHURCH HISTORY
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LIST OF THE POPES AND THE PAPACY 5
The Summit of Papal Power
INNOCENT III, 1198-1216, most Powerful of all the Popes. Claimed to be "Vicar of Christ," "Vicar of God," "Supreme Sovereign over the Church and the World"; the right to depose kings and princes; that "all things on earth and in heaven and in hell are subject to the Vicar of Christ," He brought the Church into supreme control of the State. The kings of Germany, France, England, and practically all the mon-archs of Europe obeyed his will. He even brought the Byzantine Empire under his control, tho his brutal treatment of Constantinople resulted in the further alienation of the East. Never in history has any one man exerted more power. He ordered two Crusades. Decreed Transubstantiation. Confirmed Auricular Confession. Declared that Peter's successor "can never in any way depart from the Catholic faith" (papal infallibility). Condemned the Magna Charta. Forbade the reading of the Bible in vernacular. Ordered the Extermination of Heretics. Instituted the INQUISITION. Ordered the Massacre of the Albigenses. More blood was shed under his direction, and that of his immediate successors, than in any other period of church history, except in the Papacy's effort to crush the Reformation in the 16th and 17th centuries. One would think Nero, the Beast, had come to life in the name of the Lamb.
Papal Power maintained by the Inquisition
The Inquisition, called the "HOLY OFFICE," was instituted by Innocent III, and perfected under the second following Pope, Gregory IX, It was the Church Court for the detection and punishment of heretics. Under it every one was required to inform against heretics. Anyone suspected was liable to Torture, without knowing the name of his accuser. The proceedings were secret. The Inquisitor pronounced sentence, and the victim was turned over to the civil authorities to be imprisoned for life or to be burned. The victim's property was confiscated and divided between the Church and the State. In the period immediately following Innocent III the Inquisition did its most deadly work in Southern France (see under Albigenses), but claimed vast multitudes of victims in Spain, Italy, Germany, and the Netherlands. Later on the Inquisition was the main agency in the Papacy's effort to crush the Reformation. It is stated that in the 30 years between 1540 and 1 570 no fewer than 900,000 Protestants were put to death, in the Pope's war for the extermination of the Waldenses. Think of monks and priests directing, with heartless cruelty and inhuman brutality, the work of Torturing and Burning alive innocent men and women; and doing it in the Name of Christ, by the direct order of the "Vicar of Christ." The INQUISITION is the MOST INFAMOUS THING in history. It was devised by the Popes, and used by them for 500 years to maintain their power. For its record none of the subsequent line of "Holy" and "Infallible" Popes have ever apologized,
Continued War With German Emperor
Honorius III, 1216-27. Gregory IX, 1227-41. Innocent IV, 1241-54. gave Papal sanction to the use of Torture in extracting confessions from suspected heretics. Under these three Popes, Frederick II, Emperor of Germany, grandson of Frederick Barbarossa, one of the most determined foes the Papacy ever had, led his Empire in its last great struggle with the Papacy. After repeated wars the Empire was humbled, and the Papacy emerged supreme.
Alexander IV, 1254-61. Urban IV, 1261-4. Clement IV, 1265-8. Gregory X, 1271-6. Innocent V, 1276. John XXI, 1276-7. Nicolas III, 1277-80. Martin IV, 1281-5. Honorius IV, 1285-7.
Nicolas IV, 1288-92. Celestine V, 1294.
Beginning of Papal Decline
Boniface VIII, 1294-1303, in his famous bull, "Unam Sanctam," said, "We declare, affirm, define, and pronounce that it is altogether necessary for salvation that every human creature be subject to the Roman Pontiff." However, he was so corrupt that Dante, who visited Rome during his pontificate, called the Vatican "a sewer of corruption," and assigned him, along with Nicolas III and Clement V, to the lowest parts of hell. Boniface received the Papacy at its height; but he met his match in Philip the Fair, King of France, at whose feet the Papacy was humbled to the dust, and began its ERA of DECLINE.
French Control of the Papacy
The Papacy had been victorious in its 200-year struggle with the German Empire. But now the King of France had become the leading monarch of Europe; a feeling of nationalism and spirit of independence was developing among the French people (an outgrowth, no doubt, in part of the Papacy's brutal massacre of the French Albigenses in the preceding century) ; and Philip the Fair, with whom the history of modern France begins, took up the struggle with the Papacy. His conflict started with Boniface VIII over the taxation of the French clergy. The Papacy was brought into complete submission to the State; and after the death of
Benedict XI, 1303-4, the Papal Palace was removed from Rome to Avignon on the South border of France, and for 70 years the Papacy was a mere too! of the French Court.
"Babylonian Captivity" of the Papacy
70 years (1305-1377) in which the Papal Palace was in Avignon.
Clement V, 1305-14. John XXII, 1316-34, richest man in Europe. Benedict XII, 1334-42.
Clement VI, 1342-52. Innocent VI, 1352-62. Urban V, 1362-70. Gregory XI, 1370-8. The avarice of the Avignon Popes knew no bounds; burdensome taxes were imposed; every church office was sold for money, and many new offices were created to be sold, to fill the coffers of the Popes and support the luxurious and immoral Court. Petrarch accused the Papal household of rape, adultery and all manner of fornication. In many parishes men insisted on priests keeping concubines as a protection for their own families. The "Captivity" was a blow to Papal prestige.
Note:
1215 A.D. Dogma of transubstantiation was decreed by Pope Innocent III. By this the priest pretends to
preform a daily miracle by changing a wafer into the body of Jesus Christ. He pretends to
eat Him alive in the presence of his people during mass. This is from the PIT OF HELL.
The gospel condemns such absurdities: the Lord's Supper is a simple memorial to
remember the sacrifice of Jesus. ( Luke 22:19-20 John 6:35 1Corinthians 11:26 )
See: The Eucharist
1215 A.D. Confession of sins to the priest at least once a year was instituted by Pope Innocent III in
Lateran Council. The gospel commands us to confess our sins to God.
( Psalm 1:10 Luke 7:48 Luke 15:21 1John 1:8-9 )
1220 A.D. The adoration of the wafer (host) was decreed by Pope Honorius. This means that Catholics
worship and idolize a god made by human hands ( John 4:24 )
1229 A.D. Bible was forbidden to laymen by the Council of Valencia. Jesus commanded that scriptures
should be read by all ( John 5:39 2Timothy 3:15-17 )
1287 A.D. The scapular, introduced by Simon Stock, is a piece of brown cloth containing a picture of the
virgin. It supposed has supernatural power to protect anyone who wears it on the bare skin from all dangers. This is fetishism and common to heathenism.