Although the opinion had long
prevailed in the church that the celibate life, or chastity, was more holy than
the married life, and therefore more becoming in the clergy, yet it was not uncommon
for clergymen to marry. The Cluniac party regarded this state of affairs as especially
blameworthy, and demanded that all the clergy be required to take the vow of
perpetual chastity. In this, as in other respects, Gregory VII endeavored to
carry out the Cluniac programme and so exerted himself to suppress clerical
marriage, or, as the Cluniac party called it, clerical concubinage. (A
Source Book for Medieval History: Selected Documents Illustrating the History
of Europe in the Middle Ages, ed. Oliver J. Thatcher and Edgar Holmes
McNeal [New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1905], 134)
Pope Gregory [VII] held a synod
in which he anathematized all who were guilty of simony. He also forbade all clergy
who were married to say mass, and all laymen were forbidden to be present when
such a married priest should officiate. In this he seemed to many to act
contrary to the decisions of the holy fathers who have declared that the
sacraments of the church are neither made more effective by the good qualities,
nor less effective by the sins, of the officiating priest, because it is the Holy
Spirit who makes them effective. (“Prohibition of Simony and of the Marriage of
the Clergy, 1074 A.D.,” in A Source Book for Medieval History: Selected
Documents Illustrating the History of Europe in the Middle Ages, ed. Oliver
J. Thatcher and Edgar Holmes McNeal [New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1905], 134)
. . . Nor shall clergymen who are
married say mass or serve the altar in any way. We decree that if they refuse
to obey our orders, or rather those of the holy fathers, the people shall refuse
to receive their ministrations, in order that those who disregard the love of God
and the dignity of their office may be brought to their senses through feeling
the shame of the world and the reproof of the people. (“Simony and Celibacy.
The Roman Council, 1074,” in A Source Book for Medieval History: Selected
Documents Illustrating the History of Europe in the Middle Ages, ed. Oliver
J. Thatcher and Edgar Holmes McNeal [New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1905], 135)
If there are any priests,
deacons, or subdeacons who are married, by the power of omnipotent God and the authority
of St. Peter we forbid them to enter a church until they repent and mend their
ways. But if any remain with their wives, no one shall dare hear them [when
they officiate in the church], because their benediction is turned into a
curse, and their prayer into a sin. For the Lord says through the prophet, “I
will curse your blessings” [Ma. 2:2]. Whosoever shall refuse to obey this most
salutary command shall be guilty of the sin of idolatry. For Samuel says; “For
rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and
idolatry” [1 Sam. 15:23]. Whoever therefore asserts that he is a Christian but
refuses to obey the apostolic see, is guilty of paganism. (“Celibacy of the
Clergy. Gregory VII, 1074,” in A Source Book for Medieval History: Selected
Documents Illustrating the History of Europe in the Middle Ages, ed. Oliver
J. Thatcher and Edgar Holmes McNeal [New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1905], 135)
