| What we read in the next section is that it was okay for anyone to come forward and give testimony against a witch once an accusation is brought against her. It was justifiable because witchcraft was “high treason against God’s Majesty”: “For this is the exact sentence of these laws: It is unlawful for any man to practice divination; and if he does so his reward shall be death by the sword of the executioner. There are others too who by their magic charms endeavor to take the lives of innocent people, who turn the passions of women to lusts of every kind, and these criminals are to be thrown to the wild beasts. And the laws allow that any witness whatsoever is to be admitted as evidence against them. This the Canon treating of the defense of the Faith explicitly enjoins. And the same procedure is allowable in a charge of heresy. When such an accusation is brought, any witness may come forward to give evidence, just as he may in a case of lese-majesty. For witchcraft is high treason against God's Majesty. And so, they are to be put to the torture in order to make them confess. Any person, whatsoever his rank or position, upon such an accusation may be put to the torture, and he who is found guilty, even if he confesses his crime, let him be racked, let him suffer all other tortures prescribed by law in order that he may be punished in proportion to his offences.” Now, they would like to blame Zoroaster as well, for all this “magic stuff” and we learn that if it’s in the Bible, it has been proven to be true: “Question 2, on “If it be in accordance with the Catholic Faith to maintain that in order to bring about some effect of magic, the devil must intimately co-operate with the witch, or whether one without the other, that is to say, the devil without the witch, or conversely, could produce such an effect.” Answer: “And since Zoroaster was wholly given up to the magic arts, it was the devil alone who inspired him to study and observe the stars. Very early did sorcerers and witches make compacts with the devil and connive with him to bring harm upon human beings. This is proved in the seventh chapter of Exodus, where the magicians of Pharaoh by the power of the devil wrought extraordinary wonders, imitating those plagues which Moses had brought upon Egypt by the power of good angels.” (12) I suppose, after reading this last section, that since everything in the bible is “proven” we should just look to the bible and nothing more for instruction about life. This is what the church would have us believe. Now we learn about incubi and succubi: “Part 1, Question 3, on whether children can be generated by Incubi and Succubi. “But if it is asked why the devil is allowed to cast spells upon the venereal act, rather than upon any other human act, it is answered that many reasons are assigned by the Doctors, which will be discussed later in the part concerning the divine permission. For the present that reason that has been mentioned before must suffice, namely, that the power of the devil lies in the privy parts of men.” (13) |
Question IV” – By which Devils are the Operations of Incubus and Succubus practiced? “Moreover, devils can do invisibly more things which they are not permitted to do visibly, even if they so wished; but they are allowed to do them invisibly, either as a trial for the good, or as a punishment for the wicked. Finally, it may happen that another devil may take the place of the Succubus, receive the semen from him, and become an Incubus in the place of the other devil.” “He is also named Demon, that is, Cunning over Blood, since he thirsts for and procures sin with a threefold knowledge, being powerful in the subtlety of his nature, in his age-long experience, and in the revelation of the good spirits. He is called also Belial, which means Without Yoke or Master; for he can fight against him to whom he should be subject. He is called also Beelzebub, which means Lord of Flies, that is, of the souls of sinners who have left the true faith of Christ. Also, Satan, that is, the Adversary; see I S. Peter ii: For your adversary the devil goeth about, etc. Also, Behemoth, that is, Beast, because he makes men bestial.” “But the very devil of Fornication, and the chief of that abomination, is called Asmodeus, which means the Creature of Judgment: for because of this kind of sin a terrible judgment was executed upon Sodom and the four other cities. Similarly, the devil of Pride is called Leviathan, which means Their Addition; because when Lucifer tempted our first parents, he promised them, out of his pride, the addition of Divinity. Concerning him the Lord said through Esaias: I shall visit it upon Leviathan, that old and tortuous serpent. And the devil of Avarice and Riches is called Mammon, whom also Christ mentions in the Gospel (S. Matthew vi): Ye cannot serve God, etc.” (14) As we should be able to see from the last section, the church fathers and inquisitors went to great length to rationalize and explain their new superstitions. This was going to be “cash money” for them. Now we learn, that the problem with witches is not the witch per se, but the fact that she is “aided by devils”: “Question V: What is the source of the Increase of Works of Witchcraft? Whence comes it that the Practice of Witchcraft hath so notably increased? (12) p. 16 (13) p. 26 (14) p. 30 |