Ecclesiastical court

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | 536 words | Copyright

Ecclesiastical court Tribunal system set up by European church authorities during the later Middle Ages for matters involving the church and the clergy, religious offences and secular matters. They had wide social jurisdiction. The best known was the Inquisition. The highest penalty available to the courts was excommunication. In England, ecclesiastical courts were introduced after the Norman conquest. In the 16th century these courts were compelled to become Anglican and the Privy Council became the highest ecclesiastical court.

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