Title — Decretals of Gregory IX
Title XXII: On Foreign Clerics
Chapter I
Latin source headnote: Those from overseas and very remote places ought to prove their ordination through the seals of five bishops.
Alexander III, to the Bishop of Le Mans.
Your fraternity decided to consult us concerning what is to be done about clerics who, ordained in remote regions, display letters of those by whom they claim hands were imposed upon them, when it remains uncertain whether the seals that they present are those of bishops. We therefore respond to your consultation by notice of the present letters that it is safer for the statutes of the ancient Fathers to be observed in these matters than for anything new to be established.
It was established concerning those from overseas that they be fortified by the testimony of at least five bishops concerning their ordination, which we believe is also to be observed concerning others if they are similarly unknown, yet in such a way that they are held under suspension for some time, during which those seeing them may be more fully instructed concerning their conduct. Inquiry also ought to be made concerning the lower orders, because it could happen that, with some omitted, they made a leap. These matters having been completed, if they are found worthy, a dispensation can be made concerning them. [But concerning that, etc.; cf. c. 15, On the Office of a Delegate, I.29.]
DE CLERICIS PEREGRINIS.
Ultramarini et valde remoti ordinationem suam probare debent per quinque episcoporum sigilla.
Alexander III. Cenomanensi Episcopo.
Tua nos duxit fraternitas consulendos, quid sit agendum de clericis, qui in remotis regionibus ordinati literas eorum ostendunt, a quibus sibi proponunt manus impositas, et utrum episcoporum sigilla sint, quae repraesentant, incertum exsistit. Tuae igitur consultationi significatione praesentium respondemus, tutius esse, ut in his statuta Patrum veterum observentur, quam novum aliquid statuatur. Statutum autem est de transmarinis, ut ad minus quinque episcoporum super ordinatione sua testimonio muniantur, quod in aliis, si similiter sunt incogniti, credimus observandum, ita tamen ut in suspensione aliquanto tempore habeantur in quo videntes plenius de actibus instruantur ipsorum. Sed et de inferioribus ordinibus inquiri oportet, quia posset contingere, ut aliquibus praetermissis saltum fecissent. His autem peractis, si digni inventi fuerint, circa eos poterit dispensari. [Super eo vero etc. cf. c. 15. de off. deleg. I. 29.]
Chapter II
Latin source headnote: A foreign cleric who swears that he was ordained, unless he proves it otherwise, will neither be received in that order nor promoted to higher orders.
Innocent III, to the Patriarch of Constantinople.
Among four—(And below: [cf. c. 8, On Greater Authority and Obedience, I.33.]) Your fraternity again consulted us whether you ought to promote to higher orders clerics coming to you without letters from those who ordained them and offering to furnish a corporal oath that they are constituted in any one of the ecclesiastical orders. We therefore respond thus to your inquiry: unless their canonical ordination is established for you through suitable arguments, you ought neither to receive them in those orders nor to promote them to greater orders, especially before their conduct has been approved. [To be taught also, etc. Given at Ferentino, on the fourth day before the Nones of August, in the ninth year, 1206.]
Clericus peregrinus, qui iurat se ordinatum, nisi aliter probet, in illo ordine non suscipietur, nec ad superiores promovebitur.
Innocentius III. Constantinopolitano Patriarchae.
Inter quatuor (Et infra: [cf. c. 8. de maior. et obed. I. 33.]) Consuluit nos iterum tua fraternitas, utrum clericos ad te sine suorum ordinatorum literis venientes, et offerentes praestare corporaliter iuramentum, quod sint in quovis ecclesiasticorum ordinum constituti, debeas ad superiores ordines promovere. Nos igitur Inquisitioni tuae taliter respondemus, quod, nisi de ipsorum ordinatione canonica per idonea tibi constiterit argumenta, eos nec in illis suscipere, nec ad maiores debes ordines promovere, praesertim antequam conversatio eorum fuerit approbata. [Edoceri quoque etc. Dat. Ferentini IV. Non. Aug. Ao. IX. 1206.]
Chapter III
Latin source headnote: A foreigner whose ordination is not established is not permitted to celebrate in public, but may do so in secret.
The same, to the Patriarch of Jerusalem.
The discretion of your fraternity sought to be taught by the Apostolic See whether you ought to permit those clerics who come to the regions of Jerusalem without letters commendatory to celebrate divine things, since most of them, whose canonical ordination is not established, as soon as they come presume to celebrate without seeking permission. But we, commending your solicitude in the Lord, respond concerning the first point that, unless their canonical ordination is lawfully established for you either through letters or through witnesses, you ought not to permit those who are altogether unknown to celebrate among your peoples; but if perhaps any of them should wish from devotion to celebrate secretly, you will be able to tolerate it. [Concerning the second, etc.; cf. c. 3, On Apostates, V.9. Given at Rome, at Saint Peter's, on the second day before the Kalends of February, in the ninth year, 1207.]
Peregrinus, de cuius ordinatione non constat, non permittitur celebrare in publico, sed in occulto sic.
Idem Patriarchae Hierosolymitano.
Tuae fraternitatis discretio postulavit per sedem apostolicam edoceri, Utrum clericos illos, qui ad partes Hierosolymitanas sine commendatitiis literis veniunt, permittere debeas celebrare divina, quum plerique illorum, de quorum canonica ordinatione non constat, statim ut veniunt, praesumunt, non expetita licentia, celebrare? Nos autem tuam in Domino sollicitudinem commendantes super primo articulo Respondemus, quod, nisi legitime tibi constiterit, sive per literas sive per testes, de illorum ordinatione canonica, qui penitus sunt ignoti, non debes ipsos permittere in tuis plebibus celebrare; sed si forsitan eorum aliqui secreto ex devotione celebrare voluerint, poteris sustinere. [Super secundo etc. cf. c. 3. de apostatis V. 9. Dat. Romae ap. S. Petrum II. Kal. Febr. Ao. IX. 1207.]
Chapter IV
Latin source headnote: Inferior prelates cannot institute foreigners in their churches without the consent of the diocesan bishops.
Honorius III, to the Bishop of Reginus.
Through your report we learned that certain prelates of churches under your jurisdiction do not fear to institute clerics from other bishoprics in churches committed to them without your knowledge and assent. Therefore, considering that this is permitted to them for no reason, since it is contrary to honor and alien to the institutions of the holy Fathers, after the example of Pope Alexander of happy memory, our predecessor, we respond thus to your inquiry: if any clerics from other bishoprics have been, or shall in the future be, instituted in churches under your jurisdiction without your knowledge and assent, you are permitted by our authority, appeal being set aside, to remove them from there, unless by dispensation you decide that some of them are to be left in those churches.
Inferiores praelati sine dioecesanorum consensu, in ecclesiis suis peregrinos non possunt instituere.
Honorius III. Regino Episcopo.
Te nobis proponente didicimus, quod quidam praelati ecclesiarum tuae iurisdictionis in ecclesiis sibi commissis sine conscientia tua et assensu clericos de alienis episcopatibus instituere non verentur. Attendentes igitur, id eis nulla ratione licere, quum sit honestati contrarium et a sanctorum Patrum institutionibus alienum, ad exemplar felicis recordationis Alexandri Papae praedecessoris nostri inquisitioni tuae taliter respondemus, quod, si qui clerici de alienis episcopatibus in ecclesiis tuae iurisdictionis sine conscientia et assensu tuo sunt vel fuerint in posterum instituti, tibi licet eos exinde auctoritate nostra appellatione postposita removere, nisi aliquos ex iis ex dispensatione in eisdem ecclesiis duxeris dimittendos.