Clericis laicos
Clericis laicos is the title of the papal bull published by Pope Boniface VIII on February 25, 1296. The main theme of this bull was "that the laity are enemies of the clergy ", the content of which was an investiture dispute and a tax collection for the clergy. His successor Pope Clement V had to open a trial of heresy at the request of the French King Philip IV , whereupon the latter revoked the bull "Clericis laicos" in 1306.
Boniface VIII writes about the laity that ancient times already taught that laity are in a high degree against the clergy . This is also the experience of today, because the "Christians without church office", as he called them, would try to cross the borders. They would act without consideration and restrict the activities of the clergy. What is even more threatening, however, is that they would influence the clergy's personnel decisions without any papal consent. Furthermore, the lay people, without the consent of the Holy See , impose taxes on church dignitaries that are several times higher than the normal tax rate.
With his decretal Boniface VIII had reminded the French King Philip IV of the papal approval of the investiture of the bishops . The king reacted by banning the export of gold and silver, thereby depriving the Pope of much of his income. With the bull " Roma mater ecclesia " (February 1297) and " Etsi de statu " (July 1297), the latter partially withdrew the decision from "Clericis laicos".
The relationship between Philip IV the Handsome and Boniface VIII was burdened by serious conflicts, as the king began taxing the French clergy in 1296. Boniface VIII reacted with this bull and condemned the king to refrain from any taxation of the clergy without papal approval.
In particular, the nobility and higher officials, regardless of which property they belonged to - and which he dubbed "Christians without church office" - he accused of wanting to enrich themselves through tax revenue. If by this group arrests of clergy or the seizure of religious effected buildings and facilities, he felt obliged, these individuals with excommunication from the community of the Church to banish . He admonished the clergy themselves and forbade them to pay any taxes, and threatened them with canonical penalties if they tried to defraud this instruction or secretly make other donations.
Individual evidence
- ^ Friedrich Wilhelm Bautz: Clemens V, Pope. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 1, Bautz, Hamm 1975. 2nd, unchanged edition Hamm 1990, ISBN 3-88309-013-1 , Sp. 1052-1053.
- ^ Friedrich Wilhelm Bautz: Bonifatius VIII., Pope. In: Biographisch-Bibliographisches Kirchenlexikon (BBKL). Volume 1, Bautz, Hamm 1975. 2nd, unchanged edition Hamm 1990, ISBN 3-88309-013-1 , Sp. 690-692.