A neat trick, isn't it? Just allude to the worst of humanity because they superficially share some of the positive attributes of the group you're attacking, without actually making an accusation.
Temujin (Genghis Khan), Stalin, Mao, Christopher Columbus, Mustafa Kemal (Ataturk), Shaka Zulu, and Che Guevara are all individuals who are celebrated (by some) for their accomplishments and contributions, while they have been reviled (by many others) for their role in genocides and mass killings/murders.
For a small sampling of the atrocities committed by the Catholic Church, these include:
- Inquisitions
- Crusades
- Forced conversion and murders of Pagans
- Pedophilia scandal
Of course the Catholic Church is an organization (not an individual). If you want to look at larger examples, you have Imperialist Europe, U.S. and Australian policies towards "indigenous" groups, Nazi Germany, Soviet Union, Communist China, depending on your position either Israel or the various Muslim countries/groups in the Middle East, etc.
After it was a done deed. The point is that, up until the Crusaders totally sacked Ragusa and Constantinople, the Pope was bitching them out the entire way through. After it was done, then it was just a matter of realpolitik.
It was disingenuous to give them a free pass afterwards. If anything, it creates a bad precedent that the *next time* you do something really bad, you'll just get forgiven just like last time.
I understand the concept of realpolitik, but all too often it results in an "ends justifies the means" situation. For 20th century examples, you have many Nazi officials who got a free pass because they agreed to help the Allies against the Soviets. During the Cold War era, numerous repressive regimes in Central/South America, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, who were propped up by the U.S. and Europe only because they were allied against the Soviets. China and Russia often get away with oppressive actions b/c no one wants to start something over it. Turkey gets a free pass (on genocide, and the occupation of Cyprus) b/c it is a NATO ally and secular. Different countries repeatedly look the other way when it comes to Israel, Palestine, and/or Middle Eastern countries (U.S. is biased towards Israel, lately Europe has been biased towards Palestine).
Of course the main goal was the recapture of the Holy Land, given that access had been blocked off by the Seljuks, who were also attacking the Byzantines. Again, the Church had almost nothing to do with the planning or execution of the Crusades. You talk as though the Pope was choosing the Crusaders himself. All the Pope said was "Go to the Holy Land, you get a free get out of hell card." The Popes were traditionally quite opposed to the Normans at that point in history, and were just happy that their attention was focused elsewhere, rather than raiding Italy some more.
And what, exactly, was the Pope supposed to do about the Normans and French in the Holy Land?
As an example from the First Crusade: Alexios asked the Pope for help. He wanted help (for the Byzantine Empire) against the Turks, and was looking for organized forces (not unruly hosts).
The Pope had complete control over his own speech, and how to present the Crusades. He could have:
1. Emphasized helping the ERE or reclaiming Anatolia instead of focusing on just Jerusalem
2. Mentioned a partnership with the Basileus in his speech
3. Been more selective about who (and how) to recruit (instead of the "EVERYONE who crusades, goes to heaven!!!")
4. Helped fight the increasing anti-Byzantine prejudice that was growing in the West
(Sarcasm) So you're saying that to save himself and Italy, he just sicced the Normans on the ERE instead? (/Sarcasm)
There was plenty the Pope could have done. Keeping them excommunicated would have been a start. Helping the ERE successor states retake their territory. NOT being so eager to share in the spoils of Venetian treachery.
Persecution of Pagans.
Persecution of Jews.
Persecution of Science.
Persecution of Heresies (including Protestantism).
Greed & Indulgences.
Snuffing out their own holy orders (Knights Templar) and their high martial event commanders (Joan of Arc).