Folia Theologica 14. (2003)
Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi: A Turning Point in the History of the General Councils of the West in the 13th Century (A Critical Summary on the Importance of the Constitutions of the Fourth Lateran Council [1215] According to its Theological, Canonical and Historical Aspect)
A TURNING POINT 173 The internal reform of the Church naturally included the suppression of simony. This had also been one of the principal tenets of the Gregorian reform.69 70 71 Thus, condemnation of simony was reiterated in most of the councils, including the general councils (cf. canon 7 of Lateran III),72 from the 11th to the 13th century. The canons of Lateran IV which dealt with simony mainly concerned the abuses which took place in appointments to ecclesiastical offices.73 But this is only one form which simony took. The wider meaning of the term simony has its origins in Simon Magus who, as we read in the Acts of the Apostles, desired to buy spiritual goods.74 Thus, simony in this wider sense is to be understood as any kind of buying or selling of spiritual benefices. He first precise definition of simony was given by Pope Gregory the Great (590-604).75 He distinguished three types of simony: namely, 1) gifts (prizes, etc.) accepted for the exercise of a sacred function or power; 2) the exchange of some service for a sacred service; and 3) simply intervening for someone in exchange for gifts. Simony was judged severely: as severely as heresy according to the opinion of Pope Gregory I. This apparently radical opinion is, in fact, a logical conclusion from the great mission commandment given by Christ to the Church (Mt. 28:19-20). Jesus Christ sent His Apostles to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. This is the reason why canon 8 of the council of Toledo XI (675) expressly quotes the words of our Lord: "You received without charge, give without charge."76 This canon is found in the works of Ivo of Chartres77 as well as in the Decretum Gratiani. The supreme law in the Church is the salvation of souls, which is served by the administering of each of the sacraments. But it is also served 69 X 3. 45. 1. 70 X 3. 45. 2. 71 Cf. SZUROMI, Sz.A., “Les trois premiers Synodes d’Esztergom et la discipline ecclésiastique en Hongrie au XIIe siècle” in Folia Theologica 12 (2001) 57-64. Especially 62. 72 COD 214-215. 73 Canons 63-66; cf. DS 820. 74 Act. Ap. 8,18-21. 75 Cf. . SZUROMI, Sz.A., X temetésre vonatkozó egyházfegyelem, 184-191. 76 Mth. 10,8. 77 Between 1093 and 1095 cf. ERDŐ, P., Die Quellen, 98-100.
