The responsibility for bloodshed by the clergy has been both direct, in the Crusades, other religious wars, inquisitions, and persecutions, and indirect, in condoning wars in which members of the churches killed their fellowman in other lands.
Vaimulikkonna vastutus verevalamiste eest on olnud otsene, kui võeti osa ristisõdadest, teistest ususõdadest, inkvisitsioonist ja tagakiusamistest, ning kaudne, kui salliti sõdade pidamist, kus kirikute liikmed on tapnud teistes maades elavaid ligimesi.