The Fourth Lateran Council impressed upon the bishops the responsibility of hunting out heresy. It was decided that it was better to take the life of a heretic rather than let his or her soul suffer eternal punishment. In the Middle Ages, torture was an accompaniment of judicial trials, and it was applied freely to extort confessions of heresy. As confessions increased, it was deemed necessary to establish a special tribunal for the trial of heresy cases, and the Inquisition was firmly established in 1252. This gradually became a system of courts under papal control, with an inquisitor-general as chief administrator. The system included salaried officials at local points and the civil assistance of secular officials. Persons were arrested on suspicion and compelled to prove their innocence. If convicted their property was confiscated and the proceeds were divided among the court officials, the bishops, and the civil powers. Confession of guilt might readmit the indicted person to the privileges of the Church, but he or she must suffer long imprisonment as a punishment. If they did not confess they were turned over to the civil authorities who promptly burned them alive.
Impact: The persecution of so-called heretics had unfortunate results. It brutalized the people and destroyed some of the great figures in the Church. It also alienated many Catholics and caused economic loss from the destruction of property and enforced emigration.