Role of the church in changing crime and punishment
- Created by: Himee Senanayake
- Created on: 03-06-18 13:27
View mindmap
- Role of the Church in changing crime and punishment
- 1) Church courts and the king
- William I had encouraged the church to set up courts to deal with 'moral crimes'.
- worked on the principle that punishments should offer criminals an opportunity to reform and save their souls.
- Punishments motivated by retribution alone were wrong
- maiming > execution
- in the late 12th century, Henry II tried to limit the power of the church because it challenged his authorities.
- Ending of trial by ordeal in the early 13th Century
- trial by hot iron, hot water, cold water.
- important role it played in determining the guilt or innocence of ordinary people.
- 1215 --> priests should stop helping to organise trials by ordeal.
- system quickly came to an end.
- Trial by jury --> jury observed the trial and decided whether they were guilty or not guilty.
- Benefit of clergy
- power struggle over how far the king's authority could be imposed on members of the clergy who tried for a crime.
- Senior church officials successfully argued that members of the clergy should only be tried in Church courts.
- Church courts were more lenient
- enforced pilgrimage, confession and apology at mass
- open to abuse
- Psalm 51 - 'save your neck'
- Offering sanctuary
- sanctuary = safe, hiding place
- offered to people accused of crimes
- not offered in all churches
- ask for help from a clergy
- accused person was given the chance to swear an oath agreeing to leave the country within 40 days - instead of going to court.
- 1) Church courts and the king
Comments
No comments have yet been made