The term "congregation of the inquisition" refers to the branch of the Roman Catholic Church responsible for investigating and prosecuting heresy and other crimes against the faith. Synonyms for this term include the Holy Office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and the Sacred Congregation of the Universal Inquisition. Other related words and phrases might include the Spanish Inquisition, the Medieval Inquisition, or simply the Inquisition. These terms all refer to historical periods and institutions within the Catholic Church that were devoted to maintaining orthodoxy and punishing those deemed to be heretics or nonbelievers.