CLERICIS LAICOS

Constitution of boniface viii (Feb. 24, 1296), whereby, under sentence of excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See, ecclesiastics were forbidden to pay taxes, under any pretext, to lay rulers without express leave of the pope, and whereby lay authorities were enjoined from imposing and receiving such taxes and from seizing goods deposited in churches. The constitution, defended by Boniface as a reaffirmation of existing canons (Corpus iuris canonici X 3.49.4, 7), with the addition of penalties against transgressors, was the result of clerical complaints, in particular from the lower clergy of England, against the financial exactions of Edward I and Philip IV the Fair. Its promulgation caused serious problems between Boniface and Philip and strained relations between the English clergy, especially Abp. robert of winchelsea and Edward. Ultimately the constitution was a failure. Benedict XI modified it; Clement V revoked it.

Bibliography: g. digard et al., eds., Les Registres de Boniface VIII, 4 v. (Paris 1884–1939) 1:584–585, No. 1567. t. s. r. boase, Boniface VIII (London 1933). l. santifaller, "Zur Original-Überlieferung der Bulle Papst Bonifaz VIII. 'Clericis Laicos' von 1296 Februar 25," Studia Gratiana 11 (1967) 69–90. e. j. smyth, "Clericis Laicos and the Lower Clergy in England," in g. g. steckler and d. l. davis, eds., Studies in Mediaevalia and Americana: Essays in Honor of William Lyle Davis, SJ (Spokane 1973) 77–87. t. m. izbicki, "Clerici Laicos and the Canonists," in james r. sweeney and stanley chodorow, eds., Popes, Teachers and Canon Law in the Middle Ages (Ithaca, NY 1989) 179–90.

[e. j. smyth]