HKB
12 passages · search this phrase →
Often appears with: crime and punishment · religious persecution and toleration · conspiracy and assassination · justice as a virtue · equity, mercy, and pardon · diplomacy and embassies · censorship and the press · withholding communion · waylaying bandits · vows versus baptism · unity of the church · thomas of arundel
Usually: argument (9) · detachment (6) · indignation (6) · injustice endured (4) · censure (2) · skepticism (2) · dialogue (1) · narrative (1) · speech or oration (1) · betrayal (1)
“If such irregularities are suffered with impunity,” (it is thus that the bishop of Carthage chides the lenity of his colleague,) “if such irregularities are suffered, there is an end of EPISCOPAL VIGOR; an end of the sublime and divine power of governing the Church, an end of Christianity itself.” Edward Gibbon, History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire · wit
“Consequently, as soon as sentence of excommunication is passed on a man on account of apostasy from the faith, his subjects are "ipso facto" absolved from his authority and from the oath of allegiance whereby they were bound to him.” Thomas, Aquinas, Saint, Summa Theologica, Part II-II (Secunda Secundae) · insight
“But the lesser, that is, the true Christian excommunication, consists in this, that manifest and obstinate sinners are not admitted to the Sacrament and other communion of the Church until they amend their lives and avoid sin.” Martin Luther, The Smalcald Articles · insight
“To prohibit marriage, and to burden the divine order of priests with perpetual celibacy, they have had neither authority nor right but have acted like antichristian, tyrannical, desperate scoundrels and have thereby caused all kinds of horrible, abominable, innumerable sins of unchastity.” Martin Luther, The Smalcald Articles · observation
“We do not concede to them that they are the Church, and [in truth] they are not [the Church]; nor will we listen to those things which, under the name of Church, they enjoin or forbid.” Martin Luther, The Smalcald Articles · insight
“Think, magnificent citizens, to what a dreadful point ill fortune has reduced our family, when among friends, amidst our own relatives, nay, in God's holy temple, we have found our greatest foes.” Niccolò Machiavelli, History of Florence and of the Affairs of Italy · vivid
Gibbon explains Christian exclusion from communion and benefits: excommunication targeted scandalous sinners, heretics, and apostates after baptism; its effects were both social and spiritual, isolating the punished while heretics tried to replace church support.
new-born infants are annually exposed in the streets of Pekin. See Le Comte, Memoires sur la Chine, and the Recherches sur les Chinois et les Egyptians, tom. i. p. 61.] II. It is the undoubted right of every society to exclude from its communion and benefits such among its members as reject or violate those regulations which have been established by general consent. In the exercise of this power, t…
Gibbon contrasts two primitive-church views on penitent Christians: rigid casuists exclude them forever, while more moderate churches admit them after solemn, years-long public discipline set by bishops and councils like Ancyra and Illiberis.
who had reluctantly yielded to the power of vice or idolatry were sensible of their fallen condition, and anxiously desirous of being restored to the benefits of the Christian communion. With regard to the treatment of these penitents, two opposite opinions, the one of justice, the other of mercy, divided the primitive church. The more rigid and inflexible casuists refused them forever, and without…
Gibbon argues that the church’s “human strength” came from mixing mercy and rigor, with bishops using excommunication and penance to discipline Christians and prevent loss of authority and membership.
persecution of Diocletian. This persecution had been much less severely felt in Spain than in Galatia; a difference which may, in some measure account for the contrast of their regulations.] The well-tempered mixture of liberality and rigor, the judicious dispensation of rewards and punishments, according to the maxims of policy as well as justice, constituted the *human* strength of the church. Th…
Gibbon continues discussing episcopal moral and judicial power, arguing that Christian penance becomes canonical law and that bishops can excommunicate even powerful officials while protecting against public scandal.
that M. de Montesquieu, who was a lawyer as well as a philosopher, should allege this edict of Constantine (Esprit des Loix, l. xxix. c. 16) without intimating any suspicion.] 111 (return) [ The subject of ecclesiastical jurisdiction has been involved in a mist of passion, of prejudice, and of interest. Two of the fairest books which have fallen into my hands, are the Institutes of Canon Law, by the Abbé de Fleury, …
Pope and King of Naples launch open war against Florence, excommunicating and anathematizing the city, while Lorenzo addresses citizens to justify Medici rule and denounce the Pazzi as unjust traitors.
Lorenzo da Castello in the Val di Tavere, and under Giovan Francesco da Tolentino in Romagna, approached Florence, but having heard of the failure of the conspiracy, they returned home. The changes desired by the pope and the king in the government of Florence, not having taken place, they determined to effect by war what they had failed to accomplish by treachery; and both assembled forces with all speed to attack …
He says monastic vows must be abolished because they deny Christ by seeking a holier life and heaven by human works, and he calls claims of equality with baptism blasphemy.
IX. Of Excommunication. The greater excommunication, as the Pope calls it, we regard only as a civil penalty, and it does not concern us ministers of the Church. But the lesser, that is, the true Christian excommunication, consists in this, that manifest and obstinate sinners are not admitted to the Sacrament and other communion of the Church until they amend their lives and avoid sin. And ministers ought not to min…
Aquinas states that communication with unbelievers is sometimes permitted and sometimes forbidden: the Church restricts it as punishment for excommunicated heretics/apostates or for protecting believers from scandal, especially around the weak in faith.
such as heretics and all apostates: such should be submitted even to bodily compulsion, that they may fulfil what they have promised, and hold what they, at one time, received. Reply Obj. 1: Some have understood the authority quoted to forbid, not the excommunication but the slaying of heretics, as appears from the words of Chrysostom. Augustine too, says (Ep. ad Vincent. xciii) of himself: "It was once my opinion t…
The second article argues that, because unbelief does not always end civil dominion, the Church can still deprive believers’ allegiance when an apostate prince is excommunicated.
holy men served unbelieving masters; thus Joseph served Pharaoh, Daniel served Nabuchodonosor, and Mardochai served Assuerus. Therefore apostasy from the faith does not release subjects from allegiance to their sovereign. Obj. 3: Further, just as by apostasy from the faith, a man turns away from God, so does every sin. Consequently if, on account of apostasy from the faith, princes were to lose their right to comman…
After failed poisoning, Abélard describes further plots: bribed bandits to waylay him, an accident breaking his neck bone, and renewed violent attempts including an intended throat-cutting by swords, even as he uses excommunication.
fell dead. As for the attendant who had dared to undertake this crime, he fled in terror alike of his own conscience and of the clear evidence of his guilt. After this, as their wickedness was manifest to every one, I began openly in every way I could to avoid the danger with which their plots threatened me, even to the extent of leaving the abbey and dwelling with a few others apart in little cells. If the monks kn…
Froissart continues with examples of conflict between kings and clergy, including Thomas of Arundel and papal letters, and then turns to broader claims about clerical ambition and excommunication practices.
way to keep it still, maugre his displeasure, and yet not to swear obedience unto him for all that he should be able to do or perform unto the contrary.... Hereby you see how King Stephen was dealt withal. And albeit the Archbishop of Canterbury is not openly to be touched herewith, yet it is not to be doubted but he was a doer in it, so far as might tend to the maintenance of the right and prerogative of holy churc…
Erasmus condemns church “princes” for becoming luxury-seekers who defend “Peter’s patrimony” with violence, calling this apostolic defense a system of taxes, lawsuits, and warfare.
bishop signifies, to wit, labor, care, and trouble. But in racking to gather money they truly act the part of bishops, and herein acquit themselves to be no blind seers. In like manner cardinals, if they thought themselves the successors of the apostles, they would likewise imagine that the same things the other did are required of them, and that they are not lords but dispensers of spiritual things of which they mu…
The dialogue turns to an “Inquisition concerning Faith” with characters Aulus and Barbatus, discussing excommunication as a frightening thunderbolt and arguing that divine punishment strikes souls.
*Hi.* How did you overcome that did not contend at all. *Cr.* Ye have contended, but not try'd it out. I have overcome *Marget*, and that is more than any of you could do. *Ca. Hilary.* He demands what's his Right, let him have the Basket. *An ENQUIRY CONCERNING FAITH.* The ARGUMENT. _This Inquisition concerning Faith, comprehends the Sum and Substance of the Catholick Profession. He here introduces a*…