The little horn that grew out of Imperial Rome had “eyes like the eyes of a man”. (Dan 7:8)

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This was one of the things that characterized the Roman Church.

In her day of power it was illegal for people to “mind their own business”. In her intense efforts to “ferret out heretics”, the Papal authority required all men and women to be the “eyes” of the Church.

Not only were people encouraged to inform on suspected heretics, the people were required to swear, on oath, that they would do so.

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“Men above 14 and women above 12 were obliged to swear to inform on heretics.” (Schaff vol.5 sec.86)

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“Suspicion and public rumor were sufficient grounds of complaint, seizure, and formal proceedings” (ibid, vol.5 sec.87) Obligation was placed on the common people, and yet a far greater obligation rested upon the secular princes. “If heretics were found to reside on their lands without their knowledge, such princes were to be punished.” The regional nobility were obliged to know what their people were doing and saying. Thus the church had “eyes” everywhere, and “at the trials, the utmost secrecy was observed and names of accusers were not divulged.” In many places “a prince not burning heretics was himself to be treated as a heretic.”

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May we feel the evil of these 'witch-hunt' practices, and flee from the very beginnings of it.