«We excommunicate and anathematize every heresy that raises against the holy, orthodox and Catholic faith which we have above explained; condemning all heretics under whatever names they may be known, for while they have different faces they are nevertheless bound to each other by their tails, since in all of them vanity is a common element. Those condemned, being handed over to the secular rulers of their bailiffs, let them be abandoned, to be punished with due justice, clerics being first degraded from their orders. As to the property of the condemned, if they are laymen, let it be confiscated; if clerics, let it be applied to the churches from which they received revenues. But those who are only suspected, due consideration being given to the nature of the suspicion and the character of the person, unless they prove their innocence by a proper defense, let them be anathematized and avoided by all until they have made suitable satisfaction; but if they have been under excommunication for one year, then let them be condemned as heretics. Secular authorities, whatever office they may hold, shall be admonished and induced, and if necessary compelled, by ecclesiastical censure, that as they wish to be esteemed and numbered among the faithful, so for the defense of the faith they ought publicly to take an oath that they will strive in good faith and to the best of their ability to exterminate in the territories subject to their jurisdiction all heretics pointed out by the Church; so that whenever anyone shall have assumed authority, whether spiritual or temporal, let him be bound to confirm this decree by oath. But if a temporal ruler, after having been requested and admonished by the Church, should neglect to cleanse his territory of this heretical foulness, let him be excommunicated by the metropolitan and the other bishops of the province. If he refuses to make satisfaction within a year, let the matter be made known to the supreme pontiff, that he may declare the ruler's vassals absolved from their allegiance and may offer the territory to be ruled by Catholics, who on the extermination of the heretics, may possess it without hindrance and preserve it in the purity of faith; the right, however, of the chief ruler (suzerain) is to be respected as long as he offers no obstacle in this matter and permits freedom of action. The same law is to be observed in regard to those who have no chief rulers (that is, are independent). Catholics who have girded themselves with the cross for the extermination of the heretics, shall enjoy the indulgences and privileges granted to those who go in defense of the Holy Land (i.e., crusaders).
«We decree that those who give credence to the teachings of the heretics, as well as those who receive, defend, and patronize them, are excommunicated; and we firmly declare that after any one of them has been branded with excommunication, if he has deliberately failed to make satisfaction within a year, let him incur ipso jure the stigma of infamy and let him not be admitted to public offices or deliberations, and let him not take part in the election of others to such offices or use his right to give testimony in a court of law. Let him also be intestable, that he may not have the free exercise of making a will, and let him be deprived of the right of inheritance. Let no one be urged to give an account to him in any matter, but let him be urged to give an account to others. If perchance he be a judge, let his decisions have no force, nor let any cause be brought to his attention. If he be an advocate, let his assistance by no means be sought. If a notary, let the instruments drawn up by him be considered worthless, for, the author being condemned, let them enjoy a similar fate. In all similar cases we command that the same be observed. If, however, he be a cleric, let him be deposed from every office and benefice, that the greater the fault the graver may be the punishment inflicted.
«If any refuse to avoid such after they have been ostracized by the Church, let them be excommunicated till they have made suitable satisfaction. Clerics shall not give the sacraments of the Church to such pestilential people, nor shall they presume to give them Christian burial, or to receive their alms or offerings; otherwise they shall be deprived of their office, to which they may not be restored without a special indult of the Apostolic See (i.e., the Papacy ). Similarly, all regulars, on whom also this punishment may be imposed, let their privileges be nullified in that diocese in which they have presumed to perpetrate such excesses.
«But since some, under "the appearance of godliness, but denying the power thereof," as the Apostle says (2 Timothy iii, 5), arrogate to themselves the authority to preach, as the same Apostle says: "How shall they preach unless they be sent?" (Romans x, 15), all those prohibited or not sent, who, without the authority of the Apostolic See or of the Catholic bishop of the locality, shall presume to usurp the office of preaching either publicly or privately, shall be excommunicated and unless they amend, and the sooner the better, they shall be visited with a further suitable penalty. We add, moreover, that every archbishop or bishop should himself or through his archdeacon or some other suitable persons, twice or at least once a year make the rounds of his diocese in which report has it that heretics dwell, and there compel three or more men of good character or, if it should be deemed advisable, the entire neighborhood, to swear that if anyone know of the presence there of heretics or others holding secret assemblies, or differing from the common way of the faithful in faith and morals, they will make them known to the bishop. The latter shall then call together before him those accused, who, if they do not purge themselves of the matter of which they are accused, or if after the rejection of their error they lapse into their former wickedness, shall be canonically punished. But if any of them by damnable obstinacy should disapprove of the oath and should perchance be unwilling to swear, from this very fact let them be regarded as heretics.
«We wish, therefore, and in virtue of obedience strictly command, that to carry out these instructions effectively the bishops exercise throughout their dioceses a scrupulous vigilance if they wish to escape canonical punishment. If from sufficient evidence it is apparent that a bishop is negligent or remiss in cleansing his diocese of the ferment of heretical wickedness, let him be deposed from the episcopal office and let another, who will and can confound heretical depravity, be substituted.»
Ad abolendam diversam haeresium pravitatem
«Ad abolendam diversam haeresium pravitatem, quae in plerisque mundi partibus modernis coepit temporibus pullulare, vigore debet ecclesiasticus excitari, cui nimirum imperialis fortitudinis suffragante potentia, et haereticorum protervitas in ipsis falsitatis suae conatibus elidatur, et catholicae simplicitas veritatis in ecclesia sanctas resplendens, eam ubique demonstret ab omni exsecratione falsorum dogmatum expiatam. Ideoque nos carissimi filii nostri Friderici, illustris Romanorum imperatoris semper Augusti praesentia pariter et vigore suffulti, de communi fratrum nostrorum consilio, nec non aliorum patriarcharum, archiepiscoporum multorumque principum, qui de diversis partibus imperii convenerunt, contra ipsos haereticos, quibus diversa capitula diversarum indidit professio falsitatum, praesentis decreti generali sanctione consurgimus, et omnem haeresim, quocumque nomine censeatur, per huius constitutionis seriem auctoritate apostolica condemnamus.
«Imprimis ergo Catharos et Patarinos et eos, qui se Humiliatos vel Pauperes de Ludguno falso nomine mentiuntur, Passaginos, Iosephinos, Arnaldistas perpetuo decernimus anathemati subiacere. Et quoniam nonnulli, sub specie pietatis virtutum eius, iuxta quod ait Apostolus, denegantes, auctoritatem sibi vendicant praedicandi: quum idem Apostolus dicat: "quomodo praedicabunt, nisi mittantur?" omnes, qui vel prohibiti, vel non missi, praeter auctoritatem, ab apostolica sede vel ab episcopo loci susceptam, publice vel privatim praedicare praesumpserint, et universos, qui de sacramento corporis et sanguinis Domini nostri Iesu Christi, vel de baptismate, seu de peccatorum confessione, matrimonio vel reliquis ecclesiasticis sacramentis aliter sentire aut docere non metuunt, quam sacrosanta Romana ecclesia praedicat et observat, et generaliter, quoscumque eadem Romana ecclesia vel singuli episcopi per dioceses suas cum consilio clericorum, vel clerici ipsi sede vacante cum consilio, si oportuerit, vicinorum episcoporum haereticos iudicaverint, pari vinculo perpetui anathematis innodamus. Receptores et defensores eorum, cunctosque pariter, qui praedictis haereticis ad fovendam in eis haeresis pravitatem patrocinium praestiterint aliquod vel favorem, sive consolati, sive credentes, sive perfecti, seu quibuscunque superstitiosis nominibus nuncupentur, simili decernimus decernimus sententiae subiacere.
Quia vero peccatis exigentibus quandoque contigit, ut severitatis ecclesiasticae disciplinae ab his, qui virtutem eius non intelligunt, contemnatur, praesenti, nihilominus ordinatione sancimus, ut, quicunque manifeste fuerint in haeresi deprehensi, si clericus est vel cuiuslibet religionis obumbratione fucatus, totius ecclesiastici ordinis praerogativa nudetur, et sic omni pariter officio et beneficio spoliatus ecclesiastico, saecularis reliquatur arbitrio potestatis, animadversione debita puniendus, nisi continuo post deprehensionem erroris ad fidei catholicae unitatem sponte recurrere, et errorem suum ad arbitrium episcopi regionis publice consenserit abiurare, et safistationem congruam exhibere. Laicus autem, quem aliqua praedictarum pestium notoria vel privata culpa resperserit, nisi, prout dicutum est, abiurata haeresi et satisfactione exhibita confestim ad fidem confugerit orthodoxam, saecularis iudicis arbitrio reliquantur, debitam recepturus pro qualitate facinoris ultionem.
«Qui vero inventi sola ecclesiae suspicione notabiles, nisi ad arbitrium episcopi iuxta considerationem suspicionis qualitatemque personae propriam innocentiam congrua purgatione monstraverint, simili sententiae subiacebunt. Illos quosque, qui post abiurationem erroris, vel, postquam se, ut diximus, proprii antistitis examinatione purgaverint, deprehensi fuerint in abiuratam haeresim recidisse, saeculari iudicio sine ulla penitus audentia decernimus relinquendos, bonis damnatorum clericum ecclesiis, quibus deserviebant, secundum sanctiones legitimas applicandis.
«Sane praedictam excommunicationis sententiam, cui omnes haereticos praecipimus subiacere, ab omnibus patriarchis, archiepiscopis et episcopis in praecipuis festivitatibus, et quoties solennitates habuerint vel quamlibet occasionem, ad gloriam Dei et reprehensionem haereticae pravitatis decernimus innovari, auctoritate apostolica statuentes, ut, si quis de ordine episcoporum in his negligens fuerit vel desidiosus inventus, per triennale spatium ab episcopali habeatur dignitate et administratione suspensus.
«Ad haec de episcopali consilio consilio et suggestione culminis imperialis et principum eius adiecimus, ut quilibet archiepiscopus vel episcopus per se, vel archidiaconum, suum [sic], aut per alias honestas idoneasque personas, bis vel semel in anno propriam parochiam, in qua fama fuerit haereticos habitare, circumeat, et ibitres vel plures boni testimonii viros, vel etiam, si expedire videbitur, totam viciniam iurare compellat, quod, si quis ibidem haereticos scierit vel aliquos occulta conventicula celebrantes, seu a communi conversatione fidelium vita et moribus dissidentes, eosepiscopo vel archidiacono studeat indicare. Episcopus autem vel archidiaconus ad praesentiam suam convocet accusatos, qui, nisi se ad eorum arbitrium iuxta patriae consuetudinem ab obiecto reatu purgaverint, vel, si post purgationem exhibitam in pristinam relapsi fuerint perfidiam, episcoporum iudicio puniantur. Si qui vero ex eis, iurationem superstitione damnabili respuentes, iurare forte noluerint, ex hoc ipso haeretici iudicentur, et poenis, quae praenominatae sunt, percellantur.
«Statuimus insuper, ut comites, barones, rectores et consules civitatum et aliorum locorum, iuxta commonitionem archiepiscoporum et episcoporum, praestito corpolariter iuramento promittant, quod in omnibus praedictis fideliter et efficaciter, ab eis exinde fuerint requisiti, ecclesiam contra haereticos et eorum complices adiuvabunt et studebunt bona fide iuxta officium et posse suum ecclesiastica simul et imperiali statuta circa ea, quae diximus, exsecutioni mandare. Si vero id observare noluerint, honore, quem obtinent, spolientur et ad alios nullatenus assumantur, eis nihilominus excommunicatione ligandis, et terris ipsorum interdicto ecclesiae supponendis. Civitas autem, quae his decretalibus institutis duxerit resistendum, vel contra commonitionem episcopi punire neglexerit resistentes, aliarum careat commercio vicitatum et episcopali se noverit dignitate privandam.
«Omnes etiam fautores haereticorum tanquam perpetua infamia condemnatos, ab advocatione et testimonio et aliis publicis officiis decernimus repellandos. Si qui vero fuerint, qui a lege diocesanae iurisdiciones exempti, soli subiaceant sedis apostolicae potestati, nihilominus in his, quae superius sunt contra haereticos instituta, archiepiscoporum vel episcoporum subeant iudicium, et eis in hac parte, tanquam a sede apostolica delegatis, non obstantibus libertatis suae privilegiis, obsequantur.»
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