Hello Kelly:
You have some general answers, but there are many other issues involved.
First, The Christian Religion was eventually (and surprisingly) adopted by the Roman Empire as its "official" state religion, after several hundred years of bloody persecution.
This began the alliance between "Church & State".
Thereafter, for about the next 1500 years, the alliance of European monarchies and the Chruch was a consistent fact. The Chrisitian clergy crowned the heads of state,
and the Church, by that association, transformed gradually, some of the most brutal humanity ever to hold power over their soverign nations.
The Church, through its monastary system, was virtually the only system of education.
Also, the church was able to eliminate the practice of slavery in Europe, and to elevate the status of women.
When the wars known as "The Crusades" began a unique sect of "warrior monks" was instituted known as the Knights Templars to protect pilgrims going to and from Jerusalem. It was odd, because prior to that, no man or woman "with blood on their hands" was ever allowed into the monastic life.
The text you cite contains misleading information also, especially in its concluding sentences.