Ad abolendam

Ad Abolendam ( Latin, " exterminate " in German ) is a promulgated in November 1184 decretal. It was written after the Council of Verona and is the result of a juridical agreement between Pope Lucius III. and the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. The document was one of the earliest papal measures to Häretikererbekämpfung and therefore is regarded as one of the most important steps in the formation of the Inquisition. As X 5.7.9 has been integrated into the Liber Extra.

The decretal formulated a condemnation of all heretical sects and individuals who unjustified public or private preached. Was " permanent excommunication " The verdict of this. As mentioned by name heretical groups appear in Ad Abolendam the Cathars, the Humiliati, the Waldenses, the Arnauldists that Passaginer and Josephiner. However, the excommunication should also meet all of those who supported the heretics.

Furthermore, should a heretic, if not admitted their mistakes and publicly renounced, or if they relapsed again, the secular arm to the " due penalty - animadversio debita " are passed. All supporters of heretics fell beyond the verdict of infamy, the dishonesty, and thus lost their ability to hold public office, as well as their litigation, wills and capacity to inherit.

Furthermore, all the patriarchs, archbishops and bishops were obliged by the decretal to give the mentioned imposition of excommunication on certain festivals and special occasions known again. Who missed this, which was dismissed three years of episcopal dignity and officiate.

Important to mention are also the papal provisions to the " tracking " of heretics: All bishops should be two to three times inspect suspicious parishes in the year. Three or more persons of good repute, if necessary, the entire neighborhood, were obliged by oath, the bishop display suspects. The Indicated had to then - usually - by a so-called free lens tissue from suspected heretics. Each oath objectors was considered a heretic.

Text

• Ad Abolendam: Text in Friedberg, Aemilius (ed.): Corpus iuris Canonici, volume 2 Leipzig 1879 ( fotomech. emphasis Graz 1955), 780-782 Sp.
• Ad Abolendam: text in digital form online