THE AVALON PROJECT: DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE WAR OF INVESTITURES THE DICTATE OF THE POPE

This document is from the Lillian Goldman Law Library at Yale Law School. It includes the declaration made of the infallibility of the popes and their alleged power of the church.

That the Roman church was founded by God alone.

That the Roman pontiff alone can with right be called universal.

That he alone can depose or reinstate bishops.

That, in a council, his legate, even if a lower grade, is above all bishops, and can pass sentence of deposition Against them.

That the pope may depose the absent.

That, among other things, we ought not to remain in The same house with those excommunicated by him.

That for him alone is it lawful, according to the needs of the time, to make new laws, to assemble together new congregations, to make an abbey of a canonry; and, on the other hand, to divide a rich bishopric and unite the poor ones.

That he alone may use the imperial insignia.

That of the pope alone all princes shall kiss the feet.

That his name alone shall be spoken in the churches.

That this is the only name in the world.

That it may be permitted to him to depose emperors.

That he may be permitted to transfer bishops if need be.

That he has power to ordain a clerk of any church he nay wish.

That he who is ordained by him many preside over another church, but may not hold a subordinate position; and that such a one may not receive a higher grade from any bishop.

That no synod shall be called a general one without his order.

That no chapter and no book shall be considered canonical without his authority.

That a sentence passed by him may be retracted by so one; and that he himself, alone of all, may retract it.

That he himself may be judged by no one.

That no one shall dare to condemn one who appeals to the apostolic chair.

That to the latter should be referred the more important cases of every church.

That the Roman church has never erred; nor will it err to all eternity, the Scripture bearing witness.

That the Roman pontiff, if he have been canonically ordained, is undoubtedly made a saint by the merits of St. Peter; St. Ennodius; bishop of Pavia, bearing witness, and many holy fathers agreeing with him. As is contained in the decrees of St. Symmachus the pope.

That, by his command and consent, it slay be lawful for subordinates to bring accusations.

That he may depose and reinstate bishops without assembling a synod.

That he who is not at peace with the Roman church shall not be considered catholic.

That he may absolve subjects from their fealty to wicked men.

The article sources Henderson, Ernest F. Select Historical Documents of the Middle Ages London : George Bell and Sons, 1896. 

See article source here.

Comments

[Wallace]

How a mere man can claim such powers is beyond me. It is to the point of narcissistic. Why he thinks the whole world is subject to him, and ought to bow to him is lunacy. He is no greater then I as he is a sinner just like I, and he claims nobody can judge him?

[Myles]

"How a mere man can claim such powers is beyond me. It is to the point of narcissistic. Why he thinks the whole world is subject to him, and ought to bow to him is lunacy. He is no greater then I as he is a sinner just like I, and he claims nobody can judge him"?

ISAIAH 14:12-15
How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
For thou hast said in thine heart,
I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God:
I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

It is the true nature of fallen man to believe the lie spoken by the evil serpent himself: "For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil". Genesis 3:5

Have we seen enough history to know that many seek their own glory in this fallen world, they lie, cheat, murder, steal, rise to power to bring nations to war over others only to get what Satan said they could be, "ye shall be as gods", and yet in the end every one of them will die awaiting judgment, once this epic battle between Jesus and Satan comes to its epic end, all that will be left standing will be the Son of God, Jesus Christ and His Church the body of Christ, and all Glory will belong to Him!