History of Christianity. Lecture 23 of 30. Heretics and Inquisitions. Since the 5th century the Roman Church had been largely spared the fury of theological dissension. But starting in the 12th century new and attractive creeds came to challenge the Catholic version of orthodoxy. The Church met the Waldensians, Beguines, Beghards, and Cathars with the persuasive preaching of the Franciscans and Dominicans, the sword of the Crusade, and the fury of the Inquisition.