While we have been discussing an "impressive" range of the human rights failings of the Catholic Church, I don't think we have talked about the Castrati -- the boys who were castrated to maintain their female voice.
Link here: http://www.religioustolerance.org/rcccast.htm
Castration was a practice of the ancient world. Emperors wanted only eunuchs to tend to their harems, lest there would be naughtiness inside the harem. But starting the 1500s, the Catholic Church became popularizing the idea not to protect the harem but for their female voice. The medieval clergy likes small boys, not small girls to be singing in the Church. But, boys tended to break their voice during adolescence, thus the need for castration.
"Pope Clement VIII became smitten with the sweetness and flexibility of their voices. ... While some Church officials suggested it would be preferable to lift the ban on women singers than to continue endorsing the castration of little boys, the Pope disagreed, quoting Saint Paul, 'Let women be silent in the assemblies, for it is not permitted to them to speak.'
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Link here: http://www.religioustolerance.org/rcccast.htm
Castration was a practice of the ancient world. Emperors wanted only eunuchs to tend to their harems, lest there would be naughtiness inside the harem. But starting the 1500s, the Catholic Church became popularizing the idea not to protect the harem but for their female voice. The medieval clergy likes small boys, not small girls to be singing in the Church. But, boys tended to break their voice during adolescence, thus the need for castration.
"Pope Clement VIII became smitten with the sweetness and flexibility of their voices. ... While some Church officials suggested it would be preferable to lift the ban on women singers than to continue endorsing the castration of little boys, the Pope disagreed, quoting Saint Paul, 'Let women be silent in the assemblies, for it is not permitted to them to speak.'
