Decrees of the Council of Toulouse

The Decrees of the Council of Toulouse, established in 1229, were a series of decisions made by the Catholic Church in France to address growing heretical movements, particularly the Cathars. The council sought to affirm church authority and control over religious teachings. Notably, it prohibited the laity from owning or reading the Bible, aiming to limit access to scripture and prevent interpretations that diverged from official doctrine. The decrees reflected the church's desire to maintain doctrinal purity and curb heretical beliefs during a tumultuous period in medieval Europe.