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Is there any way that Popes' calling of
Crusades to kill the Saracens can be justified from Scripture?
The Validity of Catholic Church
Tradition as spelled out in her own documents.
In paragraph 78 of its Catechism, here is what the Catholic Church spells out about the validity and authority of Church Tradition in addition to Scripture: This
living transmission, accomplished in the Holy Spirit, is called
Tradition, since it is distinct from Sacred Scripture, though closely
connected to it. Through Tradition, "the Church, in her doctrine, life
and worship, perpetuates and transmits to every generation all that she
herself is, all that she believes."37 "The
sayings of the holy Fathers
are a witness to the life-giving presence of this Tradition, showing
how its riches are poured out in the practice and life of the Church,
in her belief and her prayer.
Notice how this broad view of "tradition" goes beyond mere documents written by approved Catholics. It includes "her doctrine," but it also includes her "life." It "perpetuates and transmits to every generation all that she herself is" (emphasis mine), as well as "all that she believes." Again, it states that the "riches" of Catholic tradition "are poured out in the practice and life of the church" (emphasis mine). We conclude then, that anything that occurs under the auspices of the Catholic Church is authoritative tradition. So let us examine, from a Biblical perspective, things that have happened in the tradition of the "Catholic Church," and let us evaluate the events and practices from a Biblical perspective. Will they pass the test of Scripture? In this document we evaluate various Popes' actions in calling for Crusades to kill infidels and reclaim the Holy Land. Here is a paragraph from the Catholic Encyclopedia from an entry entitled, Crusades, explaining the Crusades. The idea of
the crusade corresponds to a political conception which was realized
in Christendom only from the eleventh to the
fifteenth
century; this supposes a union of all peoples and sovereigns under the
direction of the popes. All crusades were announced by
preaching.
After pronouncing a solemn vow, each warrior received
a cross from the hands of the pope or
his legates,
and was thenceforth considered a soldier of the Church.
Crusaders
were also granted indulgences and temporal
privileges, such
as exemption from civil jurisdiction, inviolability of persons or
lands, etc.
Pope Urban II was the first pope to call for a crusade in the Holy Land. This took place at the Council of Clermont in November of 1095. The Pope gave a rousing speech. We do not have an authoritative account of what he said. However, there appear to be five sources from which we can get some idea of the content of Urban's speech. From the Catholic Encyclopedia's article on Pope Urban II, we glean the following excerpt about what took place prior to and at the Council of Clermont: The
Eastern Emperor, Alexius I, had sent an embassy to the pope asking for
help against the Seljuk Turks who were a serious menace to the Empire
of Constantinople.... Urban's reception in France had been most
enthusiastic, and enthusiasm for the Crusade had spread as the pope
journeyed on from Italy. Thousands of nobles and knights had met
together for the council. It was decided that an army of horse and foot
should march to rescue Jerusalem and the Churches of Asia from the
Saracens. A plenary indulgence was granted to all who should undertake
the journey pro sola devotione, and further to help the movement, the
Truce of God was extended, and the property of those who had taken the
cross was to be looked upon as sacred. Those who were unfitted for the
expedition were forbidden to undertake it, and the faithful were
exhorted to take the advice of their bishops and priests before
starting. Coming forth from the church the pope addressed the immense
multitude. He used his wonderful gifts of eloquence to the utmost,
depicting the captivity of the Sacred City where Christ had suffered
and died--"Let them turn their weapons dripping with the blood of their
brothers against the enemy of the Christian Faith. Let them--oppressors
of orphans and widows, murderers and violaters of churches, robbers of
the property of others, vultures drawn by the scent of battle--let them
hasten, if they love their souls, under their captain Christ to the
rescue of Sion." When the pope ceased to speak a mighty shout of Deus
lo volt ["God wills it!"] rose from the throng. His most sanguine hopes had not
anticipated such enthusiasm as now prevailed. There were a number of Crusades,
of course, and the Pope or his representative was obliged to give his
blessing in every official crusade. Here is another account of the
calling of the First Crusade, "Urban II calls for the First Crusade" by Hugh O'Reilly. If not an official account, its author is certainly sympathetic.
Reading through O'Reilly's account, one cannot help but feel the fervor, enthusiasm, and sincerity. Here was justifiable "Holy War!" Kill the infidels for Jesus! And therein lies the irony. Under what Scripture in the New Testament do we find a church elder or apostle sending anyone off to kill unbelievers? And where do we find Jesus urging His followers to sally forth to kill infidels? Perhaps it is this? "And Jesus came up to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and kill the infidels of all the nations, baptizing them with their own blood in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them they should have observed all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age'" (Matt. 28:18-20). Or perhaps it is this? "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My assassins of the Saracens both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth" (Acts 1:8). I am just wondering where any Pope receives legitimate authority from Jesus Himself to send men off into battle to kill the infidels. Something is not adding up here |
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