Council of Toulouse

The Council of Toulouse, held in 1229, was a significant religious meeting of the Catholic Church in southern France. It addressed the growing influence of the Albigensian movement, which challenged Catholic teachings. The council decreed that only clergy could own or read the Bible, aiming to curb the spread of heretical ideas. This decision reinforced the Church’s authority and limited access to scripture, reflecting a period of intense conflict between Catholicism and dissenting beliefs. The council also set guidelines for the Inquisition, which sought to identify and eliminate heretical views within society.