Con Conflict between Gregory VII and Henry IV 275 He may be judged by no one. No one shall dare to condemn one who appeals to the papal see. The Roman church has never erred, nor ever, by the witness of Scripture, shall err to all eternity. 1 He may not be considered Catholic who does not agree with the Roman church. The pope may absolve the subjects of the unjust from their allegiance. IV. ORIGIN OF THE TROUBLES BETWEEN GREGORY VII AND HENRY IV In 1075 a synod held at Rome under Gregory VII denounced the marriage of the clergy, prohibited lay investiture, and then excommunicated five of Henry IV's councilors on the ground that they had gained the church offices which they held, by simony. While the text of this decree, which in a way began the trouble between Gregory and Henry, is lost, it was probably similar to the following decrees issued respectively three and five years later. Inasmuch as we have learned that, contrary to the ordi- no. Decree nances of the holy fathers, the investiture with churches is, of Novem - i riii 1 i r t> er J 9 I0 7 8 in many places, performed by lay persons, and that from forbidding this cause many disturbances arise in the Church by which lay investi- the Christian religion is degraded, we decree that no one tures - of the clergy shall receive the investiture with a bishopric, or abbey, or church, from the hand of an emperor, or king, or of any lay person, male or female. If he shall presume to do so, let him know that such investiture is void by apostolic authority, and that he himself shall lie under excommuni- cation until fitting satisfaction shall have been made. 1 See sermon of Leo the Great, above, pp. 70-71.
