Debunking the False Notion of Idolatry in the Catholic Church

This would be the fourth installment of our Q&A series to prove the catholicity of the Sacred Scripture by examining the purported anti-catholic passages on it.

The question now is about the sacred images used by Catholics on our church buildings as well as in our homes, offices, etc.

If the Bible is a Catholic book...  

Why does it condemn the making and adoration of images? (Ex. 20:4-5).

MY REPLY: Again, to set facts straight, we do not adore images. Adoration is for God, the most holy Trinity, alone. Please watch carefully on the terms you are using.

Going back to the topic, as usual, anti-Catholics are fond of accusing us of idolatry using these verses:

Exodus 20:4-5 NRSVCE 

You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in the form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me,

By distorting these passages as well as other Old Testament accounts detailing idols (Deut. 5:7-9; Lev. 19:4; Is. 44:9-11 among others), they do not hesitate to conclude that Catholics who have statues of the Lord, his Saints and Angels, are guilty of idolatry. "All images are idols" becomes their general proposition. Much more than that, they proudly proclaim that mere possession of images is a perfect sign of disobedience to God's commandment against idols.

For the record, the Church condemns any form of Idolatry...

There are a great many kinds of sins. Scripture provides several lists of them. The Letter to the Galatians contrasts the works of the flesh with the fruit of the Spirit: "Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, IDOLATRY, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God." 

The divine injunction included the prohibition of every representation of God by the hand of man. Deuteronomy explains: "Since you saw no form on the day that the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, beware lest you act corruptly by making a graven image for yourselves, in the form of any figure. . . . " It is the absolutely transcendent God who revealed himself to Israel. "He is the all," but at the same time "he is greater than all his works." He is "the author of beauty."

CCC #1852, 2129 (emphasis added)

Anti-catholics fail to understand God's position regarding images on the entirety of the Holy Bible because they often read God's "commandment not to make" but not His "commandment to make"

Kindly compare these passages (I'll use their favorite bible version; KJV):

*God's commandment not to make...

Exodus 20:4 KJV 

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

*God's commandment to make...

Numbers 21:8-9 KJV 

And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

Take a second closer look... God commanded not to make ANY graven images but he also ordered Moses to make an image of a serpent.

Common anti-catholic propaganda against sacred images

Now, is it a contradiction? Certainly NOT! If we were to believe that all images are prohibited by God, we would definitely face a serious dichotomy here--a quagmire which would nullify the attribute of God being the ultimate source of truth. But we all know that He will never fool his people nor lie to them. It's just that we need to consider a bigger picture of the events so as to comprehend the idea behind.

God himself ordered his people to put sacred images...

...on His temple / sanctuary

ANGELS / CHERUBIMS 

1 Kings 6:23-28 NRSVCE 

In the inner sanctuary he made two cherubim of olivewood, each ten cubits high. Five cubits was the length of one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the length of the other wing of the cherub; it was ten cubits from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other. The other cherub also measured ten cubits; both cherubim had the same measure and the same form. The height of one cherub was ten cubits, and so was that of the other cherub. He put the cherubim in the innermost part of the house; the wings of the cherubim were spread out so that a wing of one was touching the one wall, and a wing of the other cherub was touching the other wall; their other wings toward the center of the house were touching wing to wing. He also overlaid the cherubim with gold. 

2 Chronicles 3:10-13 NRSVCE 

In the most holy place he made two carved cherubim and overlaid them with gold. The wings of the cherubim together extended twenty cubits: one wing of the one, five cubits long, touched the wall of the house, and its other wing, five cubits long, touched the wing of the other cherub; and of this cherub, one wing, five cubits long, touched the wall of the house, and the other wing, also five cubits long, was joined to the wing of the first cherub. The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits; the cherubim stood on their feet, facing the nave. 

Exodus 26:1 NRSVCE 

Moreover you shall make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twisted linen, and blue, purple, and crimson yarns; you shall make them with cherubim skillfully worked into them. 

Exodus 26:31 NRSVCE 

You shall make a curtain of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, and of fine twisted linen; it shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it.

FLOWERS AND FRUITS ON THE LAMPSTAND 

Exodus 25:33-36 NRSVCE 

three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with calyx and petals, on one branch, and three cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with calyx and petals, on the other branch—so for the six branches going out of the lampstand. On the lampstand itself there shall be four cups shaped like almond blossoms, each with its calyxes and petals. There shall be a calyx of one piece with it under the first pair of branches, a calyx of one piece with it under the next pair of branches, and a calyx of one piece with it under the last pair of branches—so for the six branches that go out of the lampstand. Their calyxes and their branches shall be of one piece with it, the whole of it one hammered piece of pure gold. 

SIGNET-LIKE ENGRAVINGS 

Exodus 39:14 NRSVCE 

There were twelve stones with names corresponding to the names of the sons of Israel; they were like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes. 

CEDAR GOURDS AND OPEN FLOWER 

1 Kings 6:18 NRSVCE 

The cedar within the house had carvings of gourds and open flowers; all was cedar, no stone was seen. 

CARVED CHERUBIMS, PALM TREES AND FLOWERS 

1 Kings 6:29 NRSVCE 

He carved the walls of the house all around about with carved engravings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, in the inner and outer rooms. 

1 Kings 6:32 NRSVCE

He covered the two doors of olivewood with carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers; he overlaid them with gold, and spread gold on the cherubim and on the palm trees. 

1 Kings 7:18-20 NRSVCE

He made the columns with two rows around each latticework to cover the capitals that were above the pomegranates; he did the same with the other capital. Now the capitals that were on the tops of the pillars in the vestibule were of lily-work, four cubits high. The capitals were on the two pillars and also above the rounded projection that was beside the latticework; there were two hundred pomegranates in rows all around; and so with the other capital. 

1 Kings 7:22 NRSVCE 

On the tops of the pillars was lily-work. Thus the work of the pillars was finished. 

12 OXEN / BULLS 

1 Kings 7:25 NRSVCE 

It stood on twelve oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east; the sea was set on them. The hindquarters of each were toward the inside. 

ENGRAVED LILIES ON THE WATER BASIN 

1 Kings 7:26 NRSVCE

Its thickness was a handbreadth; its brim was made like the brim of a cup, like the flower of a lily; it held two thousand baths. 

IMAGES OF LIONS, OXENS AND CHERUBIMS 

1 Kings 7:29 NRSVCE 

on the borders that were set in the frames were lions, oxen, and cherubim. On the frames, both above and below the lions and oxen, there were wreaths of beveled work. 

IMAGES OF 4 BRAZEN WHEELS AND AXLES 

1 Kings 7:30 NRSVCE 

Each stand had four bronze wheels and axles of bronze; at the four corners were supports for a basin. The supports were cast with wreaths at the side of each. 

IMAGES OF TREES AND CHAINS ON THE CEILING OF THE TEMPLE 

2 Chronicles 3:5 NRSVCE 

The nave he lined with cypress, covered it with fine gold, and made palms and chains on it. 

CARVED IMAGES ALL OVER THE TEMPLE 

Ezekiel 41:18-20 NRSVCE
It was formed of cherubim and palm trees, a palm tree between cherub and cherub. Each cherub had two faces: a human face turned toward the palm tree on the one side, and the face of a young lion turned toward the palm tree on the other side. They were carved on the whole temple all around; from the floor to the area above the door, cherubim and palm trees were carved on the wall.

...on the garments of His priests

PROMEGRANATE FRUITS, BELLS AND CHAINS ON THE CLERICAL VESTMENTS 

Exodus 28:33-34 NRSVCE 

On its lower hem you shall make pomegranates of blue, purple, and crimson yarns, all around the lower hem, with bells of gold between them all around—a golden bell and a pomegranate alternating all around the lower hem of the robe. 

Exodus 39: 15 NRSVCE 

They made on the breastpiece chains of pure gold, twisted like cords;

...on the Ark of the Covenant

Exodus 25:10-22 NRSVCE 

They shall make an ark of acacia wood; it shall be two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. You shall overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside you shall overlay it, and you shall make a molding of gold upon it all around. You shall cast four rings of gold for it and put them on its four feet, two rings on the one side of it, and two rings on the other side. You shall make poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with gold. And you shall put the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, by which to carry the ark. The poles shall remain in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. You shall put into the ark the covenant that I shall give you. 

Then you shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two cubits and a half shall be its length, and a cubit and a half its width. You shall make two cherubim of gold; you shall make them of hammered work, at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other; of one piece with the mercy seat you shall make the cherubim at its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings. They shall face one to another; the faces of the cherubim shall be turned toward the mercy seat. You shall put the mercy seat on the top of the ark; and in the ark you shall put the covenant that I shall give you. There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the covenant, I will deliver to you all my commands for the Israelites.

...to heal the sick

Numbers 21:8-9 NRSVCE 

And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous serpent, and set it on a pole; and everyone who is bitten shall look at it and live.” So Moses made a serpent of bronze, and put it upon a pole; and whenever a serpent bit someone, that person would look at the serpent of bronze and live.

Clearly, the prohibition to make images is not absolute at all. It extends only to those images used as object of worship (e.g. idols) but not to those used properly in the service of the one true God. And this is also the reason why God eventually banned the said bronze serpent when Israelites worshipped it as a god (cf. 2 Kings 18:4)

1 Corinthians 8:4 RSV
Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.”

Lord Jesus, his Saints and Angels are proven to have real existence (unless you doubt it) therefore they cannot be called as idols. On the other hand, Zeus, Athena, Hermes, Vishnu, Shiva et al have no real existence at all. Besides, not all so-called idols are tangible, there are also intangible / abstract idols...

REBELLION AS IDOLATRY 

1 Samuel 15:23 NRSVCE 

For rebellion is no less a sin than divination, and stubbornness is like iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.” 

FORNIFICATION AS IDOLATRY 

Wisdom 14:12 NRSVCE 

For the idea of making idols was the beginning of fornication, and the invention of them was the corruption of life; 

GREED AS IDOLATRY 

Colossians 3:5 NRSVCE 

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry).

Considering the presented passages above, the Bible clearly leans on the belief of the Church regarding the sacred and profane images. Profane images (of idols) are prohibited but not the sacred ones.

Meanwhile, the Church generally defines IDOLATRY as "a perversion of man’s innate religious sense" (CCC 2114) while "an idolater is someone who ‘transfers his indestructible notion of God to anything other than God" (Ibid.).

Finally, She gives us further understanding on the commandment against other gods...

What does God prohibit by his command, “You shall not have other gods before me” (Exodus 20:2)? 

This commandment forbids: 

Polytheism and idolatry, which divinizes creatures, power, money, or even demons. 

Superstition which is a departure from the worship due to the true God and which also expresses itself in various forms of divination, magic, sorcery and spiritism. 

Irreligion which is evidenced: in tempting God by word or deed; in sacrilege, which profanes sacred persons or sacred things, above all the Eucharist; and in simony, which involves the buying or selling of spiritual things. 

Atheism which rejects the existence of God, founded often on a false conception of human autonomy. 

Agnosticism which affirms that nothing can be known about God, and involves indifferentism and practical atheism.

#445, Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

...and the correct understanding of the issue on "graven images"

Does the commandment of God, “You shall not make for yourself a graven image” (Exodus 20:3), forbid the cult of images?

In the Old Testament this commandment forbade any representation of God who is absolutely transcendent. The Christian veneration of sacred images, however, is justified by the incarnation of the Son of God (as taught by the Second Council of Nicea in 787AD) because such veneration is founded on the mystery of the Son of God made man, in whom the transcendent God is made visible. This does not mean the adoration of an image, but rather the veneration of the one who is represented in it: for example, Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Angels and the Saints. 

#446, Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

CONCLUSION: The Bible allows the making of images provided that they are not used as objects of worship [e.g.idolatry] as the Church teaches, ergo it is a Catholic book!  :)

THE HOLY INQUISITION IS INDEED HOLY PART 1

If we are going to search for any horrible events happened in the history of mankind, our Protestant friends will surely say to us that it was the Holy Inquisition that can be considered as the most horrifying event in history. According to myths and legends, the Holy Inquisition death toll is about 600,000 to millions of victims. Well, that would be a serious massacre for heretics if that is true and perhaps that could be the end of the humanity in Europe that might lead TO EXTINCTION OF WORLD POPULATION!

Seriously, Holy Inquisition is a Catholic Inquisition that used to expel heretics through making a tribunal court that would manage the rising population of heretics throughout Europe. In medieval times, Popes used this to combat heresy but later adapted by civil and secular government to establish unity among their territories (e.g. Portuguese Inquisition, and Spanish Inquisition).

The Biblical Root of Inquisition:

 Many say that the Inquisition is an unreasonable method used by the Pope to combat heresy and perhaps an ungodly idea to exterminate Church enemies but IT IS NOT TRUE! If we are going to study the Holy Scriptures, Christians and Jews had been practicing it to combat heresy, immorality and atheism that might destroy their faith towards God. Since our Protestant friends believe that the Bible is the sole basis of faith, we are going to reveal today the Biblical root of Inquisition:

1.)    In Acts 5:1-10, Ananias and Saphira were punished through death and it was inflicted by our First Pope, St. Peter. Therefore, as Pope being the successor of Peter, it has a right to inflict punishments among the heretics supported by his power to bind and to loose (Matthew 16:18-20)

2.)    St Paul said;

1 Corinthians 5:13 (NIV)
“God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”

Since then, the Church has a right to inflict punishments and expulsion among those who commit grievous sins and heresy.

3.)    Esther 2:23 (ASV)

“And when inquisition was made of the matter, and it was found to be so, they were both hanged on a tree: and it was written in the book of the chronicles before the king.”

Even Jews used this kind of Inquisition to combat immoralities among their members.

4.)    2 Kings 10:25 (KJV)

“And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, and slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal.”

In this verse, Jews had slain the Baal worshipers drawing out to the conclusion that killing infidels is not totally against God but pleases God to separate the wicked from the good.

5.)    Wisdom 1:9 (DRV)

“ For inquisition shall be made into the thoughts of the ungodly: and the hearing of his words shall come to God, to the chastising of his iniquities.”

6.)    2 Chronicles 15:13 (DRV)

“And if any one, said he, seek not the Lord the God of Israel, let him die, whether little or great, man or woman.”

Jews imposed death punishment among the non-believers to preserve their faith and religion.

7.)    2 Chronicles 23:17 (DRV)

“And all the people went into the house of Baal, and destroyed it: and they broke down his altars and his idols: and they slew Mathan the priest of Baal before the altars.”

8.)    Burning at stake:

2 Chronicles 34:5 (DRV)“And he burnt the bones of the priests on the altars of the idols, and he cleansed Juda and Jerusalem.”

9.)    Jesus instituted a Tribunal that will manage the heresy and the emergence of heathens within the Church.

Matthew 18:15-18 (ASV)
“And if thy brother sin against thee, go, show him his fault between thee and him alone: if he hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. But if he hear thee not, take with thee one or two more, that at the mouth of two witnesses or three every word may be established. And if he refuse to hear them, tell it unto the church: and if he refuse to hear the church also, let him be unto thee as the Gentile and the publican.”

10.) Jesus’ commandment in Matthew 18 is parallel to OT tribunal to prosecute evil and punish them:

Deuteronomy 17:2-7 (ESV) “If there is found among you, within any 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, in transgressing his covenant, ³ and has gone and served other gods and worshiped them, or the sun or the moon or any of the host of heaven, which I have forbidden, ⁴ and it is told you and you hear of it, then you shall inquire diligently, and if it is true and certain that such an abomination has been done in Israel, ⁵ then you shall bring out to your gates that man or woman who has done this evil thing, and you shall stone that man or woman to death with stones. ⁶ On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness. ⁷ The hand of the witnesses shall be first against him to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people. So you shall purge the evil from your midst."

11.) Deuteronomy  13:13-16

 "If any of the cities which the Lord, your GOD, gives you to dwell in, you hear it said that certain scoundrels have sprung up among you and have led astray the inhabitants of their city to serve other gods whom you have not known, you must inquire carefully into the matter and investigate it thoroughly. If you find that it is true and an established fact that this abomination has been committed in your midst, you shall put the inhabitants of that city to the sword, dooming the city and all life that is in it, even its cattle to the sword."

It has to be noted to everyone that Inquisition is a Biblical method employed by the Church to combat the enemies of the Lord in proclaiming True Doctrines of Christianity. It is neither an invented instrument used by the Pope nor an unbiblical method. Perhaps, Bible is supporting it!

The Truth about CATHOLIC INQUISITION

The story told to the Protestants is totally a different story told to us by history supported by physical and concrete historical evidences. Protestants used to say that Inquisition is about killing innocent people and killing Protestants desired by the Pope and by the Catholic clergy officials to exterminate their enemies, but it isn’t true. Perhaps, the Inquisition organized by the Catholic Church (particularly by the Pope) never forced anyone to compel to Catholic faith as what St. Thomas Aquinas said in his Summa Theologica:

"They are in no way to be forced to believe, for belief is from the will.”

Source: Summa Theologica, q.10, art.8

According to myths and legends, Inquisition used death penalty against certain individual who found to be heretic but according to the medieval Maestruzza that contains the summary of Sacraments and Commandments for the inquisitors:

"According to the civil law, soothsayers and witches should be burned; BUT ACCORDING TO THE CHURCH, THEY SHOULD BE DEPRIVED OF COMMUNION, if their crime be notorious; if it is secret, they should receive a penance of forty days (c. 42)." The inquisitors cannot interfere with soothsayers and sorcerers, unless heresy is plainly to be feared. Those who relapse into heresy after having abjured it, should be delivered to the secular power (c. 91)."

FROM: MAESTRUZZA, SACRAMENTS AND COMMANDMENTS OF INQUISITION (1338)

TAKEN FROM THE BOOK: Some Lies and Errors of History by the Rev. Reuben Parsons, D.D.; Notre Dame, Indiana: The Ave Maria; 7th edition; 1893; pp. 143-187.

THEREFORE, DEATH PUNISHMENT IS NOT PRESCRIBED BY THE CHURCH TO BE THE PUNISHMENT AGAINST HERETICS BUT RATHER, THE CHURCH SUPERVISED A MORE HUMANE ACT WHICH IS PENANCE FOR FORTY DAYS! DEATH PENALTY, ON THE OTHER HAND, WAS SUPERVISED BY SECULAR POWER OR BY THE GOVERNMENT ACCORDING TO THE LAWS THEY IMPOSED WITH REGARDS TO THEIR STATE RELIGION AND PRACTICES OF FAITH. THE PUNISHMENT THEREFORE IS A CIVIL ONE, NOT AN ECCLESIATICAL RULE!

THE SPANISH INQUISITION

The emerging power of Catholicism in Iberia Peninsula took place after the defeat of Moors/Muslims in the region. The Spain became a united country after the war against Moors and established a strong Catholic monarch through King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella from Kingdoms of Aragon and Castille. As a newly-established State, they must strengthen it and for the Spanish patriots, unity also means RELIGIOUS UNITY, ONE FAITH, ONE GOD, and ONE STATE!

At first, the free practice of religion was fully enjoyed in Spain but it was abolished due to the numerous uprisings and revolts being conducted by infidels particularly Moors. In 1501, the Spanish sovereign ordered the Moors to leave the country. This resulted to the conversion of some Moors to Catholicism. Though most of the Moors were baptized and converted, many had lived in a grievous apostasy adulterating their Christianity through practicing their Mohammedian belief at the same time (IT HAS TO BE NOTED THAT THE CHURCH DOESN'T TEACH FORCED BAPTISM). As for patriots, political unity is the same to religious unity and that would make the enemy of Christianity as the enemy of Spain. The only instrument that can provide this religious unity is the adaptation of “INQUISITION” in Spain which had been introduced in 1480.

We have to remember that the Spanish Inquisition was not in the full control of the Pope but rather by the Catholic monarchy to establish unity and constancy in the region. Therefore, any consequences happened in the Spanish Inquisition is no longer from the Pope but from the secular power which is the royalty of Spain.

"The body was under the direct control of the Spanish monarchy"

source: : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Inquisition

“The Protestant Schrock, in his "Universal History," admits that this tribunal [Spanish Holy Inquisition] was secular…”

Source: Ibid. p.146

Perhaps, the profits from this Inquisition were being collected directly in Royal treasury and not by the Ecclesiastical Power in Spain. It was only the Catholic monarchs who gained something from this, neither the Pope nor the whole church.

"King Ferdinand defiantly rejected Papal control, the Inquisition becoming thereafter a tool of the monarchy, rather than the church."

Source: Madden, Thomas F., The Truth About the Spanish Inquisition, Crisis Magazine, September 2003

CATHOLIC INQUISITIONS: HORRIBLE OR ADMIRABLE?

Now, let’s go to another issue with regards to Inquisition if it was a humane tribunal or not. Most of the Protestants believe that Inquisition is about poor condition of prisons, tortures, death of hundreds of thousands or even millions of people and anti- Protestantism strategy but if we are going to search more about it, surely we can say that INQUISITION WAS FAR BETTER COMPARE TO ORDINARY CIVIL TRIBUNAL OF A PARTICULAR COUNTRY! Even Voltaire admitted the JUST DECISION OF INQUISITION WITH REGARDS TO CONDEMNING HERETICS OR RECONCILING THEM:

"Without doubt this justly detested tribunal (Holy Inquisition Office) has been charged with horrible excesses that it did not always commit; it is foolish to clamor against the Inquisition because of doubtful facts, and still more foolish to search for lies with which to render it hateful."

-VOLTAIRE, from: French Dictionary of Sciences

Some historians also admit the fact that Inquisition prison/ detention cell is far better compare to ordinary civil/ secular prison facilities:

“The jails of the Inquisition were no worse than those of secular authorities, and there are even certain testimonies that occasionally they were much better.”

Source: Walsh, Thomas William, Characters of the Inquisition, P.J. Kennedy & Sons, 1940, p. 163.

Other leaders also praised the Inquisition for it considered justice and equality among people. One of them was M. Bourgoing which was the French minister during the newly-established French Republic (19^th century- Bonaparte’s regime).

"I publicly avow, in order to pay homage to truth, that the Inquisition might be cited, in our days, as a model of equity. "

Source: "A Voyage in Spain," by M. Bourgoing, reviewed in the "Journal of the Empire," Sep. 17, 1805.

It was also not an anti-Protestantism strategy employed to expel Protestants because of the small percentage of Protestant victims. For over 49,092 cases (from 1560-1700), only 7.13% comprises the population of Protestants. It is wrong to say that it concentrated to Protestants because generally speaking, it focused on how to suppress other forms of heresy aside from Protestantism.

THE PUNISHMENT OF THE TRIBUNAL, the process of the trial

the emblem of Inquisition (1571)

Inquisition did not promote the capital punishment to be the sole punishment of those who were accused and condemned as heretics. The fact is that, accused people were given choices of how they can be punished. If they confess that they had sinned they could be penanced. They can also be acquitted if they can disprove any accusations against them. THE ONLY SERIOUS PUNISHMENT THE CHURCH COULD EMPLOY WAS IMPRISONMENT JUST LIKE WHAT THE CHURCH DID TO GALILEO GALILEI WHO LIVED COMFORTABLY IN HOUSE ARREST FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE!

The death punishment/ capital punishment, on the other hand, were employed by secular power just like what Emperor Justine ordered in the Roman Empire to combat heresy (Justinian Code). And since the CIVIL LAW PROVIDED A PUNISHMENT OF DEATH TO THOSE HERETICS, IT WAS THE CIVIL LAW WHO PUNISHED THEM, NEITHER THE ECCLESIASTICAL COURT NOR THE HOLY SEE.

“The most serious punishment was relaxation to the secular arm for burning at stake—the Church did not itself kill. This penalty was frequently applied to impenitent heretics and those who had relapsed.”

SOURCE: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Inquisition

Perhaps, according to some historians, Inquisition helped the heretics to escape death from secular power just because it gave them a chance to join once more the community and the Church communion.

“The Inquisition provided a means for heretics to escape death and return to the community.”

Souce: Madden, Thomas F., "The Real Inquisition"

FROM ABOVE, so far, WE CAN THEREFORE CONCLUDE:

•           THAT THE CHURCH DID IMPOSE INQUISITION WITH BIBLICAL BASIS
•           THAT THE CHURCH DID NOT EMPLOY DEATH PENALTY AGAINST HERETICS FOR THE CLERICS ARE FORBIDDEN TO DO SO
•           THAT THE INQUISITION WAS CONSIDERED TO BE FAR BETTER TRIBUNAL COMPARE TO SECULAR AND CIVIL COURT/TRIBUNAL
•           THAT THE INQUISITION WAS MORE HUMANE JUDICIAL PROCESS COMPARE TO OTHERS IN THE SETTING OF MIDDLE AGES TO AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT.
•           THAT THE SPANISH INQUISITION WAS A SECULAR ONE BEING CONTROLLED BY THE ROYALTY OF SPAIN AND NOT BY THE POPE.
•          THAT THE INQUISITION DID NOT CONCENTRATE TO THE PROTESTANTS BUT TO OTHER FORMS OF IMMORALITY AND HERESY.

In part two of this article, we will focus on the Protestant wrong allegations about the death toll of Inquisition, if the Inquisition was Anti-Semitic and the Protestant version of their Inquisition against Jews and our fellow Catholics.

the video on the right was a BBC documentary about the myths of Inquisition

THE RIDICULOUS DOCTRINE OF ONENESS

Perhaps, one of the most ridiculous doctrines in the history of Christianity is the doctrine of Oneness that teaches about the SINGULARITY OF PERSON OF THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. Oneness Pentecostal members always say that the Father is Jesus Christ, the Son is Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit is Jesus Christ. They keep saying that the sole name of God is Jesus as he manifested Himself as Savior in New Testament for new covenant of the people to God. According to them, God manifested Himself as the Creator during Old Testament while became Comforter (Holy Spirit) after the ascension of Jesus to heaven. Oneness doctrine rejects the truth about Trinity wherein God is being manifested by Three distinct Persons.

From non-Catholic website (Protestant website):

“Oneness theology denies the Trinity and teaches that God is a single person who was "manifested as Father in creation and as the Father of the Son, in the Son for our redemption, and as the Holy Spirit in our regeneration." Another way of looking at it is that God revealed himself as Father in the Old Testament, as the Son in Jesus during Christ’s ministry on earth, and now as the Holy Spirit after Christ’s ascension.”

Source: http://carm.org/oneness-pentecostal-theology#footnote1_gfixm3z

Well, Oneness theology is not new to the Church when it comes to the history of Early Christianity which can be dated back at the third century A.D. The Early Church condemned this belief and considered this as heretical doctrine particularly by Tertullian, an Early Church father. Modalism, like Oneness theology denies the truth about Holy Trinity and accepts the idea of God transformed into different modes from different ages. God manifested as a Creator in Genesis, Savior in New Testament and Comforter after the ascension of Jesus. Oneness theology also accepts the Monarchian idea that God can manifest in many modes as what an article in Wikipedia says:

“Oneness Pentecostalism REJECTS ALL CONCEPTS OF A SUBORDINATION, DUALITY, TRINITY, PANTHEON, CO-EQUALITY, CO-ETERNITY, or other versions of the Godhead that assert plural gods, plural beings, divine "persons", individuals, or multiple centers of consciousness within that Godhead…
“. Oneness believers say that GOD CAN OPERATE USING AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF MANIFESTATIONS, not just three. However they recognize that "the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit" are the great and major roles that God has carried out in man's redemption.”

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oneness_Pentecostalism

To refute this ridiculous claim, let’s see and read some Bible passages:

1.)    Jesus prays “Our Father”, if Jesus Himself is not a distinct person from the Father then why did he pray to the Father and not to Himself? If He really is a Father, then what made Him pray to another Father though He Himself is the Father Almighty?

Matthew 6:9 (NIV);

"This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,..”

2.)    Jesus conversed with Father through prayers. If Jesus is the Father, then why is it that he did not talk with Himself alone? Instead of talking with Himself, Jesus prayed to His Father in heaven. Was Jesus crazy on that time to talk with Himself or was that because of the fact that Father is another distinct person aside from the Son?

Matthew 26:39 (ESV)

And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.

3.)    If Jesus Himself is the Father, then who is the Father in heaven being referred by Jesus? Jesus on that time was on Earth and not in heaven. If Jesus is the Father, who is this “Father in heaven” being referred by Christ?

Matthew 6:9 (NIV);

"This, then, is how you should pray: "'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,..”

Matthew 23:9 (KJV)

“ And call no [man] your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”

Matthew 18:10 (KJV)

“Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.”

4.)    If Jesus is the Father, then He is the sole Creator, and He alone should be credited from every creation in the universe. But why is it that the words “US” and “OUR” were used in Genesis and not “I”?

Genesis 1:26

“Then God said, “LET US make mankind in OUR image, in OUR likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

5.)    If the Father is Jesus, the Son, then why did the Father call Jesus His Son though He [Father] Himself is Jesus?  Who is the One being called as “Jesus” and “Son” if the Father Himself is the “Son”?

Hebrews 1:5 (KJV) 

“For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?”

6.)    If the Father is the Son, then who is the begotten One by the Father?  Who begets the Son if the Son is the Father?

Hebrews 1:5 (KJV) 

“For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?” 

John 1:18 (KJV) 

“No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.”

7.)    Why is it that there are THRONES MENTIONED IN HEAVEN AND NOT ONE?

Hebrews 1:3 (KJV)“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, SAT DOWN ON THE RIGHT HAND OF THE MAJESTY ON HIGH:” 

 Mark 16:19 (NIV)“After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and HE SAT AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD.”

If Jesus is the Father, then there should be one throne in heaven, but why is it that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father and not seated at the throne of the Father?

8.)    If Jesus is the Holy Spirit then why did He send the Holy Spirit? Did Jesus send Himself or Did He send the Holy Spirit?

Acts 1:8 

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me”

Is it the Holy Spirit that came upon us or Jesus again came back to us after He ascended to heaven?

9.)    If co-eternity is not true and the Holy Spirit was only manifested after Jesus’ ascension, why is it that the Holy Spirit was mentioned right at the moment where angel Gabriel told the news of Christ’s birth? Does it mean that God being in One Person wore two modes at the same time?

Luke 1:35 (NIV) 

“The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.”

10.) If Jesus is the Holy Spirit, why is it that the Holy Spirit needed to go down from heaven during the baptism of Christ though Christ Himself is the Holy Spirit?

John 1:32 (NIV) 

“Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.”

11.)  Oneness Pentecostal believes that:

“Oneness Pentecostals believe that the title "Son" only applied to Christ when he became flesh on earth, but that Christ was the Logos or Mind of the Father prior to his being made human, and not a separate person.” (Wikipedia)

If the Son was only manifested right at the moment of Jesus' birth, then Who is the One with God Father  right at the moment of creation?

Genesis 1:26 

“Then God said, “LET US make mankind in OUR image, in OUR likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 

 Genesis 3:22 

And the Lord God said, “The man has now become like one of US, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”

Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva- the pagan god of Hindu,
 a changing god for changing times

Again, the word “US” was used in the particular verse talking about the plurality of persons in One God. What does it mean?

12.) If Jesus is the Father, Why did He look toward heaven since according to Pentecostals, Jesus Himself is the Father? To whom Jesus was talking with? to the Father as Himself or to the another Divine Person which is the Father?

John 17:1 (NIV)
"After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: "Father, the hour has come, glorify Your Son, that Your Son may glorify You.""

13.) If the Son is not co-eternal with the Father as what Oneness Pentecostals say, why is it that Jesus Christ said this?

John 17:5 (NIV) 

"And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began."

Jesus claimed Himself that He Had a "glory before the world began." Does it affirm the claim of Pentecostals that the Son was only manifested when Jesus became flesh or not?

14.) If Trinity is not true, then why is it that there are three that bear record in heaven and not one?

1 John 5:7(KJV)
"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. "

15.) Why is it that Oneness theology is somewhat parallel to the pagan doctrine of Hinduism?

Hindus believe that Brahma, being "god" manifested himself in different modes as he can transform himself in different forms:

" Surya is Brahman in the morning, Vishnu in the afternoon and Shiva in the evening."

source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimurti 

It is exactly the same to the Oneness doctrine that talks about the transformation of God in different forms. They always explain that God manifested Himself as a "Creator" in Old testament, "Savior" in New Testament and "Comforter" in church era in which we can conclude that these Three Forms are neither co-eternal nor co-existing. Did Monarchians/Oneness derive it from pagan world?

CONCLUSION:

 THE ONENESS THEOLOGY IS CONFLICTING WITH THE BIBLICAL PASSAGES. IT IS NEITHER APOSTOLIC NOR BIBLICAL. PERHAPS, THERE IS POSSIBILITY THAT IT WAS DERIVED FROM ANCIENT PAGAN DOCTRINE. PROVEN BY THE ABOVE PASSAGES, EITHER THE ONENESS DOCTRINE OR MODALISM IS ILLOGICAL. IT IS SUCH A FALLACIOUS DOCTRINE REVIVED BY THE PENTECOSTAL MOVEMENTS TO MISGUIDE OUR CATHOLIC FELLOWS FROM THE TRUTH.