Lee Finn Hist: 3056
Reading Response 1
Karr
02/05/15

Finn I. Despite the attempts of the Papacy to gain control over the Church within Empire, many humanists such as Dante Alighieri and Lorenzo Valla argued that not only was the Church corrupt in relying upon fraudulent papers such as the Doctrine of Constantine in order to stake its territorial claim, but that the claim was itself illegitimate. The Holy Roman Empire never was - nor has ever been- subordinate to neither a secular nor a spiritual power. Many have argued that it was the people who are represented by the electors and in accordance with the will of God - who were the true source of power of the Empire and it is the people who also had jurisdiction …show more content…
Pope Gregory and the Church would then begin to wield their power by not only excommunicating the King, but those who he appointed in the the Church as well. In the letter which Gregory penned to King Henry IV he would state that not only should a “royal dignity to look more respectfully upon the master of the church.”2 but was given this authority by God, thus he is also given the keys to the kingdom of Heaven and is not only bound upon the earth but Heaven as well. Gregory also goes to state that no matter how sinful and unworthy the Emperor believes the Church to be it still does act as the representative of God's power. Theodosis would be suspended by the Priest of Milan who would “patiently and solemnly perform the penance for homicide which was laid upon …show more content…
This does not fall on the role of the Papacy as Christ himself wanted to exclude himself from judgment unto others, thus subjecting himself to the conditions of the world around him and excluding both himself and his followers from all “governing and worldly coercive rule.” 10 God also desired his subjects “to the coercive jurisdiction of the princes of the world in reality and in person”11 stating to Pontius Pilate that “his Kingdom was not of this world”12 , thus making his Kingdom that of the Heavens and not of the