Notes on Fascism, Genocide & the Catholic Church

This era in the history of the Catholic Church cannot be justified by any church apologist or biased historian. It can only be filtered and denied - because the blood of so many and the lonesome cries of the innocent can still be heard by those who have ears to hear …

The term fascism is often categorized as a political animal. Once we focus on its rules and dictates, the Catholic Church, transcends any totalitarian regime, far ahead of the likes of Alexander the Great, Roman politics at its worst, and the twentieth century copy-cats of Nazism or post WW2 North Korea, to name a few - the Catholic Church is the bench mark or template that all followed, but have never reached their level of success. Once combing religion and politics, anything goes. The Inquisition is a prime example of Machiavellian political philosophy to the 10th power, following through, maintaining absolute dominance over all – cunningly deceiving all and sunder.
 
Considering the term fascism is thrown around and aimed at any authority (usually by the ignorant or children) we will attempt to define it, to contextualize its major tenets in relation to the Catholic Church.

What is fascism?

Fascism is a political philosophy. Its foundational tenet is the pursuit of absolute power over its people – educationally, politically, economically and perhaps, spiritually. The authorities will go to great lengths to prevent the population under its control from educating themselves. All information must run through the government, and is highly censored. Ideally the government would prefer zero outside sources of information. A fascist government’s purpose is to ensure all its population think the same: same politics, same ethical values, beliefs, and total obedience. It was once believed that the Nazis in the 20th century were the closest to following the core tenets of fascism, a well-run totalitarian regime. More so, however, the Catholic Church is the greatest, thus the most successful totalitarian institution in the history of the Western world.

Fascism’s most effective tool is Fear. Through fear and the threat of death – eternal damnation – followers will blindly act inappropriately, like killing for the “cause”. It is essential in a fascist state to have an enemy, a “scapegoat”, the cause of all suffering or economic woes. In the Nazi movement, the scapegoat was the Jew. For the Catholic Church it varied: heretics, Jews and women. The result of the Church’s “scapegoats”, millions were tortured and executed. - All in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.     

A prime example of Church applications of fascism came in the form of a comprehensive handbook for Inquisitor’s in 1578. This instruction manual provided the purpose for Inquisitorial penalties for the convicted heretic.

“…for punishment does not take place primarily and per se for the correction and good of the person punished, but for the public good in order that others may become terrified and weaned away from the evil’s they would commit.”  (Emphasis mine.) 

This proven method of control over a conquered nation in war time goes back as far as antiquity. It is often referred to as “head on a pike”. Those religious and political leaders of the occupied country town or settlement, would be decapitated, their heads put on long pikes, and strategically positioned throughout the area like well-placed advertising billboards, for all to see. This assuredly imposed great fear in the population, a deterrent against rebellion. The Catholic Church understood human nature, applying this well tested method of control. That said, however, the sheer number executed, during this “seek and destroy mission” reveals a blood-lust, the Inquisitors murdering more heretics than required for Church control. The Catholic Church’s own “Final Solution”, similar to the twentieth century Nazis, in their efforts to attain absolute power. 

To be continued...