FREE SPIRIT (SPIRIT OF FREEDOM). — These names designate various groups of heretical sects that, from the mid-thirteenth century until the end of the fifteenth century, were found in various parts of the Germanic countries, the Low Countries, and northern France; and at the beginning of the fourteenth century also in Italy, namely in Umbria. The origin of the movement is obscure. The sect appeared in the mid-thirteenth century, especially in the regions of the upper Rhine and generally in the southern part of the German-speaking territory, then spread further north into the Low Countries, where beguines and beghards (q.v.) were also involved, though not all of them, so that the sect is sometimes designated by these names, as indeed happened at the Council of Vienne in 1312. As early as 1274, the Franciscan Simon of Tournai had pointed out this danger (cf. Arch. franc. hist., 24 [1931], pp. 61 ff.).
The condemnation pronounced by the said Council (c. 3 Ad nostrum [V, 3] in Clem.) lists eight errors professed by the sect: 1. Man can attain such a degree of perfection that he cannot sin; 2. Whoever has reached this degree does not need to fast, pray, and may grant the body whatever it desires; 3. Those who are in that state and in the spirit of freedom are subject to no human obedience and are not bound by ecclesiastical precepts; 4. Man can attain final beatitude in this life, as he will in the next; 5. Every intellectual nature is in itself blessed and does not need the light of glory to elevate it to the vision and fruition of God; 6. The practice of virtue is for imperfect man, while the perfect soul dispenses with virtues; 7. The kiss of a woman is a mortal sin when nature is not inclined to it, whereas carnal intercourse is not a sin when nature is inclined to it; 8. No reverence should be shown to the Body of Christ, nor should one think of the Passion of Our Lord. From this it is clear that the movement was characterized by perverse quietism and in some groups also by a more overt pantheism.
The immoral quietism is also the main characteristic of the sect of the "spirit of freedom" in Umbria. Its founder was Bentivenga of Gubbio, a Franciscan friar called the "apostle," and doubtless because he came from the suppressed sect of the "Apostles" of Gerard Segarelli. Under the guise of false sanctity and apostolic zeal, he secretly spread his errors, which allowed the followers to indulge their passions without remorse, since the adherents claimed to have attained impeccability. An inquisitorial manual of the time lists ten errors or heresies of the sect, which largely coincide with the eight articles condemned by the Council of Vienne. The sect, which was spreading secretly in the early years of the fourteenth century, was uncovered when Bentivenga, around 1306–1307, attempted to win over Clare of Montefalco to his errors. The saint denounced him to Cardinal Napoleone Orsini, legate in Tuscany, whose chaplain, Ubertino da Casale, legally proved Bentivenga’s guilt; he was condemned to perpetual imprisonment. According to Arnold of Villanova, his followers numbered more than 240, including men and women, of whom seven were Franciscan friars. In 1311, Clement V sent Rainerio, bishop of Cremona, as inquisitor with the express task of eradicating the heresy in the valley of Spoleto. He tried Francis of Borgo San Sepolcro, called the prophet, already condemned for "spirit of freedom," but was virtually acquitted in the new trial. Individual cases of "spirit of freedom" are also found later in Italy, and St. Bernardino of Siena still combated II.