Author Topic: Pope Julius II (Read 794 times)

Elbow · « **on:** July 30, 2013, 03:47:07 PM »

Hi, Elbow here.

I have some college education, I know one can research info out for themselves. Without having to run to libraries or conduct something exhausting... can one point me in the direction of reliable historical information on Pope Julius and brothels?

In an online disagreement with more than one person about the Catholic Church supposedly operating brothels across Europe centuries ago, some replied to my objection that this was false, with the claim Pope Julius II "established" a brothel, the Church oversaw the brothel for more than a century, and profits from the brothel having gone to a religious order.

I was already aware that the Papal States at one point had legalized prostitution confined to certain quarters. But this is not the same as starting a brothel and owning it.

So, does anyone know if these claims about Julius II are true or false?

They sound false to me. I'm hazarding a guess people are mixing up the taxes and secular aspects of running the Papal States with the Pope and Church owning one or more brothels.

Marlelar · « **Reply #1 on:** July 30, 2013, 03:52:59 PM »

I have no idea myself, hopefully someone here will be able to help you.

Marsha

Sigismund · « **Reply #2 on:** July 30, 2013, 06:34:09 PM »

No one with sense claims that the pope is incapable of sin. If this is true, it means that a pope sinned gravely. That's all.

Elbow · « **Reply #3 on:** July 30, 2013, 09:09:07 PM »

Quote from: Sigismund

No one with sense claims that the pope is incapable of sin. If this is true, it means that a pope sinned gravely. That's all.

Not the answer I'm looking for. Of course Popes can sin. They can go to hell or purgatory or heaven.

My inquiry does not pertain to that and I see no reason I or Catholics should side-step the issue.

I think I found on Catholic Answers Forum browsing over a thread I was directed to through a google search, that the Papal States (that is to say the Church as it pertains to the Pope and Roman Curia) eventually issued licenses to brothels. I'm making an assumption here that the Papal States charged for licensing brothels. Which would make sense to me.

The way I think of it is legitimate businesses that are not state owned in the United States paying taxes to the government. Or even parish churches paying property taxes to local government. Or if the U.S. legalized prostitution brothels would pay property taxes and the prostitutes would pay taxes out of their income too. That does not mean the U.S. Government or a U.S. President runs and owns all businesses--brothels or otherwise--in the United States.

On the other hand, if Pope Julius and/or the Catholic Church owned brothels that would be another thing. It would be telling people not to sin through sex outside of marriage while owning brothels and profiting directly from sex outside of marriage.