Effects of the Fourth Lateran Council on Germany. The pope administered legates to each nation in Europe, in order to ensure the bishops adhered to the Canon law.[2] In Germany this privilege was assigned to Cardinal-Priest Peter De Sasso, who was sent in

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Effects of the Fourth Lateran Council on Germany

Clarification can be offered from the constitutional reforms published by the Fourth Lateran Council in the form of an awareness being acknowledged in regards to the ‘deep-seated problems within the fabric of the Medieval church.’ These deep-seated problems are particularly evident within Germany. Innocent III not only set out the decrees, but had to ensure they would be implemented correctly and evenly throughout Latin Christendom until his death in July 1216. Innocent had to take into account that not all the bishops under him would enforce the constitutions and therefore he knew it was necessary to be able to oversee any disobedience within the church.  

        The pope administered legates to each nation in Europe, in order to ensure the bishops adhered to the Canon law. In Germany this privilege was assigned to Cardinal-Priest Peter De Sasso, who was sent in early 1216. In order to fully dedicate his time to the reform of the church in Germany, the first issue that had to be resolved was that of the schism in Cologne.

        Canon 64 states that ‘Since the stain of simony has so infected many nuns that scarcely any are received into the community without a price, doing this on the plea of poverty to conceal that evil, we strictly forbid that this be done in the future, decreeing that whoever in the future shall be guilty of such irregularity, both the one receiving and the one received, whether subject or superioress, shall, without hope of restoration, be removed from their monastery to one of stricter observance to do penance for the remainder of their life.’ 

        The problem that is being eradicated from church life via this constitution is that of simony, which is the sin of buying of buying or selling ecclesiastical preferments or benefices and making a profit out of anything sacred. What C. 64 is dealing with is roles within the church being offered at a price, and states that both the receiver and the received will be removed. It also states that if simony had taken place before the decrees were incorporated, then the bishop who had taken the payment should be moved to a different section of the same order. This decree, along with C. 63, 65 and 66, dealt with the various different types of simony that took place within the church.

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        An example of simony in Germany was brought to light before the Fourth Lateran Council in April 1212, Innocent III requested that the senior dignitaries of the church in Münster inquire into the actions of a canon at Bonn, believed to be Henry of Müllenhark. It appears he was acquitted as he remained in his position as the provost of Bonn until 1225. This documented record of simoniacal activity is notable as it offers insight into why it had to be addressed as an issues within Germany.

        Canon 64 was taken seriously and was enforced  through many different mediums during ...

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