During this time, the Dominicans became the principle agents of the Inquisition, a special court given authority to judge intentions as well as actions. Over the next several decades, the church increased the severity of punishment for heresy, ultimately making it a capital offense under Pope Gregory IX. In 1184 Pope Lucius III issued a decree that a convicted heretic was to be handed over to secular authorities for punishment. Pope Alexander III (1162–63) encouraged informers, so the church could discover evidence of heresy. As the power of the Catholic Church increased in Europe, dissenting voices of other Christian groups became more troublesome. Heresy has existed in every age, but during the 12th century, the Catholic Church took unprecedented action against it. With regards to religion, any belief or practice that goes against the official position of the church is considered heretical. These definitions identify two key elements: a dominant position and a contrary position. So, what exactly is heresy, and what does the Bible have to say about it?Ī basic definition of heresy, according to Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, is “adherence to a religious opinion contrary to church dogma.” A second definition is “dissent or deviation from a dominant theory, opinion, or practice.” That’s a good starting point for us. If we are not history buffs or religious scholars, we might know that heresy is a bad thing, but still be rather foggy on the details. There was a period of church history that certainly included those things. When we hear the word heresy, we might conjure up images of medieval torture chambers and heresy trials.