Title — Decretals of Gregory IX
Title VIII: On Schismatics and Those Ordained by Them
Chapter I
Latin source headnote: Ordinations, collations of benefices, and alienations of ecclesiastical things made by schismatics are invalid; and those who swear to maintain a schism are suspended from dignity and order.
From the Lateran Council.
Renewing what was done by our predecessor Pope Innocent of happy memory, we decree that ordinations made by the heresiarchs Octavian and Guido, and also by John of Struma, who followed them, and by those ordained by them, are invalid. We add also that those [if any] who received ecclesiastical dignities or benefices through the said schismatics are to lack the things obtained. Alienations also, or invasions, which were made concerning ecclesiastical things through the same schismatics, or which were made through laypersons, are to lack all force and revert to the churches without any burden. But if anyone shall have presumed to act contrary to this, let him know that he is subject to excommunication. We decree that those who voluntarily furnished an oath to maintain the schism remain suspended from sacred orders and dignities.
DE SCHISMATICIS ET ORDINATIS AB EIS.
Irritae sunt ordinationes, beneficiorum collationes, et ecclesiasticarum rerum alienationes per schismaticos factae, et a dignitate et ordine suspenduntur qui schisma tenere iurant.
Ex concilio Lateranensi. Quod a praedecessore nostro felicis memoriae Papa Innocentio factum est innovantes, ordinationes ab Octaviano et Guidone haeresiarchis, nec non et Ioanne Strumensi, qui eos secutus est, factas, et ab ordinatis ab eis, irritas esse censemus, adiicientes etiam, ut, [si] qui dignitates ecclesiasticas seu beneficia per dictos schismaticos acceperunt, careant impetratis. Alienationes quoque sive invasiones, quae per eosdem schismaticos, seu quae per laicos factae sunt de rebus ecclesiasticis, omni careant firmitate, et ad ecclesias sine omni onere revertantur. Si quis autem contraire praesumpserit, excommunicationi se noverit subiacere. Illos vero, qui sponte iuramentum de tenendo schismate praestiterint, a sacris ordinibus et dignitatibus decernimus manere suspensos.
Chapter II
Latin source headnote: One ordained by a schismatic is to be repelled from office unless he proves that dispensation was granted to him by one having the power.
Innocent III, to the Archbishop of Besançon.
To your fraternity. (And below: [cf. c. 7, On One Who Had Knowledge, IV. 13.]) You will also be able without hesitation to repel from office the prior whom you assert was ordained by a schismatic, unless he shall lawfully have proved that merciful dispensation was granted to him by that person who had the power of dispensing concerning this. [Given at Ferentino on the twelfth day before the Kalends of June, 1203.]
Ordinatus a schismatico ab officio est repellendus, nisi probet secum dispensatum per habentem potestatem.
Innocentius III. Bisuntino Archiepiscopo.
Fraternitati tuae (Et infra: [cf. c. 7. de eo, qui cogn. IV. 13.]) Priorem quoque, quem a schismatico asseris ordinatum, ab officio poteris repellere incunctanter, nisi legitime probaverit secum fuisse misericorditer dispensatum et ab ea persona, quae super hoc potestatem habuerit dispensandi. [Dat. Ferentini XII. Kal. Iun. 1203.]