How does religious freedom reconcile with the treatment of heresy as a civil crime during the Middle Ages?
It is important to distinguish punishable heresy from innocent error. The former has to do with baptized Catholics obstinately rejecting the authoritative teaching of the Church in matters of dogma. Therefore, the very notion of punishable heresy excludes those who are not visible members of the Catholic Church. Additionally, the legitimacy of treating heresy as a civil crime presupposes religious unity. If that essential religious unity is weakened or destroyed then treating heresy as a civil crime loses its basis and is no longer legitimate.
