It would be easy enough to imagine that increase in reports of leprosy and heresy in Medieval Europe were just the result of the disease spreading or being better understood, but Richard Moore suggests there was much more going on. Leprosy and heresy cannot be examined as a cultural aspect without looking at the greater series of events that were faced by medieval Europe. It is no mistake that cases of leprosy increased at the same time as cases of heresy. The increase of centralized powers within Europe changes not only the physical landscape, but also the social landscape of the entire region and caused for a rethinking of how society and the church should function. The key to this linking between leprosy and heresy was classification. Classification was not just limited to science but applied to every category possible, including people. The rapid
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Abbot Reginald of St. Omer was diagnosis with leprosy yet still managed to rule his abbey from isolation in a cell for almost a year. He was forced out of his position after he attempted to avoid an important meeting due to his condition and forced into exile (Moore 46). This showed in many ways that leprosy could affect anyone no matter their power. This connection between physical and spiritual well being was solidified in the 3rd Lateran Council in 1179 which identified the proper ways to deal with both lepers and heretics. In both cases they were to be separated from society because they were disease whether of the soul or of the body (Moore 10). Efforts such as this were not entirely with in the Church. For example, the first Europe wide effort against heretics was co-created by Pope Lucius III and emperor Frederick Barbarossa in the bull ad abolendam (Moore 8). This is essential considering the Church could not deliver the death penalty but the secular system
Abbot Reginald of St. Omer was diagnosis with leprosy yet still managed to rule his abbey from isolation in a cell for almost a year. He was forced out of his position after he attempted to avoid an important meeting due to his condition and forced into exile (Moore 46). This showed in many ways that leprosy could affect anyone no matter their power. This connection between physical and spiritual well being was solidified in the 3rd Lateran Council in 1179 which identified the proper ways to deal with both lepers and heretics. In both cases they were to be separated from society because they were disease whether of the soul or of the body (Moore 10). Efforts such as this were not entirely with in the Church. For example, the first Europe wide effort against heretics was co-created by Pope Lucius III and emperor Frederick Barbarossa in the bull ad abolendam (Moore 8). This is essential considering the Church could not deliver the death penalty but the secular system