What was used to try people who opposed the church?

Those who opposed the Church, particularly during the medieval and early modern periods, were often tried using inquisitions and heresy trials. These legal proceedings were conducted by ecclesiastical courts, which had the authority to investigate, prosecute, and punish individuals accused of heresy or other offenses against the Church. Punishments could range from fines and imprisonment to execution, depending on the severity of the alleged offense. The trials were often characterized by a lack of due process and the use of torture to extract confessions.