Clericis laicos

Clericis laicos is the title of Papal bull of Pope Boniface VIII published on February 25, 1296. The theme of this bull was "that the laity are enemies of the clergy ," the contents, it was an investiture controversy and a tax collection for the Clergy. His successor, Pope Clement V had open at the request of the French king Philip IV trial for heresy, whereupon he withdrew the Bull " Clericis laicos " in 1306.

Boniface VIII writes about the laity, that the antiquity already have taught that the laity were in the high degree against the clergy. This was also the experience of the present time, because the " Christians without a church office ," as he called them, would try to exceed the limits. They would act without consideration and restrict the activities of the clergy. What is even more threatening but they would act on the personnel decisions at the clergy without papal approval. Furthermore, the laity, without taking the consent of the Holy See, the church dignitaries with taxes that were several fold higher than the standard rate would.

With his decretal Boniface VIII had reminded the French king Philip IV to the papal consent to the investiture of bishops. The king responded with a ban on exports of gold and silver, and thereby deprived the Pope a large part of its revenue. This is now moved to the Bull " Roma mater ecclesia " ( February 1297 ) and " Etsi de statu " ( July 1297 ) the decision of " Clericis laicos " partially back.

The relationship between Philip IV the Fair and Boniface VIII was burdened by serious conflict, the king began in 1296 with the taxation of the French clergy. Boniface VIII responded with the bull, and condemned the king any taxation of the clergy to refrain without papal approval.

In particular, the nobility and the higher officials, irrespective of its acquis they belonged to - and which he dubbed with "Christians without a church office" - he accused to want to enrich themselves through tax revenues. Should be done by this group arrests of clergy or the confiscation of church buildings and facilities, as he saw himself forced to banish these people with excommunication from the church community. The clergy themselves, he exhorted and warned them any tax payment shall be made, even to them, he threatened to canonical penalties if they would try to cheat this statement or make other secretly Geldzuwendengen would.