In the past the church was very brutal in its efforts to spread Christianity. Has a pope ever apologized to the world for all those horrific deaths?
2007-10-30 08:42:46 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
If yes, which pope?
2007-10-30 08:46:00 · update #1
Yes. Pope John Paul the 2nd apologised to the Jews for the centuries of Christian anti-semitism, to the Muslim world for the crusades, to the Eastern Orthodox Christians for the many persecutions that Rome inflicted. The was also a general contrition about the inquisition.
BTW, I'm an atheist but I'm not going to ignore what really happened due to a dislike of organised religions.
2007-10-30 08:45:16 · answer #1 · answered by TriciaG28 (Bean na h-Éireann) 6 · 4⤊ 2⤋
I don't know about the deaths, but Pope John Paul II did apologize to Galileo (359 years or so after his death) in 1992. Galileo went before the Roman Inquisition because he said the earth revolved around the sun. The catholic church taught that the sun revolved around the earth. Anyway, his works were banned and he was on house arrest for the rest of his life. What a shame for a man who knew the truth. But this apology is nothing compared to what should be done for the deaths caused by the inquisition.
2007-10-30 08:49:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
John Paul II publically apologized for a variety of brutalities carried out in the name of the Church. I believe the Inquisition and the Crusades were included, but I'm not sure on that.
2007-10-30 08:51:54 · answer #3 · answered by Nightwind 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Is the Pope of today responsible? Try 20 or so popes removed. Secondly, realize that Christianity was not the only religion, let alone a nation, who tried brutally to spread their Religion. How about the Moors invading Spain for example?
Not to mention that every empire that has ever been forged has used brutal (often enslaving conquered people) tactics to gain more territory or resources. This is not a religion only thing I would argue that rather it's a government thing. Back in those days the church and state (government) often worked hand in hand. And as we know power corrupts.
2007-10-30 08:48:08 · answer #4 · answered by jay k 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Isn't that kind of like modern day Germans apologizing for Hitler having lived in their country and been the proponent for the Holocaust? While the gesture might be considered diplomatic for the purposes of smoothing over current relations, does anyone really think that a modern day citizen's apology for something that someone else did years ago, holds much water? I'm not responsible for what anyone does but myself, and if I'm part of a group who's past I do not agree with, then I make sure that the present is something I'm proud of.
2007-10-30 13:10:28 · answer #5 · answered by reddevilbloodymary 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, John Paul 2nd apologized.
Not all Roman Catholics were paying attention that day.
JP 2 also apologized to Martin Luther.
Pastor Art
2007-10-30 08:48:23 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is no "pope" in the Bible. He wasn't spreading Christianity. He was spreading catholic hellfire.
Catholics are not saved and are not Christians. Catholics believe a false gospel of works that leads to eternal hell (Galatians 1).
Bible teachers that said the Vatican and the catholic cult are an antichrist: John Bunyan, John Huss, John Wycliffe, John Calvin, William Tyndale, John Knox, Thomas Bacon, John Wesley, Charles Spurgeon, Samuel Cooper, John Cotton, and Jonathan Edwards
2007-10-30 08:46:22 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 5⤋
John Paul did!
2007-10-30 08:45:46 · answer #8 · answered by Premaholic 7 · 3⤊ 2⤋
Well, that would kinda be like our current administration apologizing for slavery. It doesn't mean anything because those involved are dead and gone.
2007-10-30 08:46:26 · answer #9 · answered by pookiemct07 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
The key phrase is "in the past."
Have you apologized for every indiscretion your ancestors committed?
2007-10-30 08:46:25 · answer #10 · answered by _Kraygh_ 5 · 3⤊ 3⤋