A igreja no Brasil colonial: agentes da inquisição

Resumo

The Inquisition acted in Colonial Brazil through a body of agents known as “Commissioners” and “Familiars” of the Holly Office. Their function was to find the heretics and watch carefully the attitudes, actions, expressions of the brazilian population. This body of agents had the right to arrest suspects and confiscate their goods when they find it necessary. The interest in becoming “Familiar” was enormeous, due to the elevated status, highest prestige and increased priviligies which this tittle bestowed. To achieve such a title the candidate had to above all prove that he was of “pure of blood”, that he had not jewish, black, mulato or moor predecessors whatever. Corruption was common and the tittle of “Familiar” was often used without approval of the Holly Office of the Inquisition, merely to satisfy personnal interest. In this article we list the names of candidates, portuguese and brazilian born, who wished to become agents of the Holly Office but who were refused for various reasons, principaly due to jewish (or new christian) origin.