Reply #57: Not to mention the Papal Bull issued in the 16th century

[SemperEadem]

"Regnans in Excelsis" by Pope Pius V absolved the subjects of Queen Elizabeth I of any sin if they undertook her murder to remove "the heretic" from the throne of England, return it back to the Catholic Church and place Mary Stuart of Scotland on it in its place. That's called, in present day terms, a contract hit. Put out by the church.

Regarding the 8,000 French protestant Huguenots who were massacred by Catholics: When the first rumours of the massacre reached the Vatican in Rome on 2 September 1572, pope Gregory XIII was jubilant and wanted bonfires to be lit in Rome. He was persuaded to wait for the official communication; the very morning of the day that he received the confirmed news, the pope held a consistory and announced that "God had been pleased to be merciful". Then with all the cardinals he repaired to the Church of St. Mark for the Te Deum, and prayed and ordered prayers that the Most Christian King might rid and purge his entire kingdom (of France) of the Huguenot plague.

On 8 September 1572 a procession of thanksgiving took place in Rome, and the pope, in a prayer after mass, thanked God for having "granted the Catholic people a glorious triumph over a perfidious race".


Murder/killing is a concept that is not lost on the Catholic Church. "in 'thou shalt not kill', the thou means you, not us.."