Armsbearing and the Clergy in the History and Canon Law of Western Christianity

The relationship between clergy and warfare has been complex, with the Christian Church forbidding its clergy from bearing arms in the first millennium but allowing them to do so for defensive purposes over the next two hundred years. This study examines how these changes developed and considers the reasons why the original prohibition has never been restored.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 278 pages
Publication date: 05 April 2019
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

The intricate and often contentious relationship between clergy and warfare has been traced through a comprehensive examination of canon law. In the early days of Christianity, the Christian Church imposed a strict prohibition on its clergy from engaging in warfare. However, this ban was repeatedly reinforced at the highest levels during the mid-eleventh century, particularly during the Battle of Hastings. All participants who had drawn blood were mandated to perform public penance as a form of atonement. Nevertheless, over the course of the next two hundred years, significant changes occurred in the canon law of the Latin Church. The pope and bishops began to authorize and direct wars, and military-religious orders, such as the Templars, emerged to safeguard the faithful and the Faith. Additionally, individual clerics were granted the permission to bear arms for defensive purposes. This study delves into the historical development of these changes, spanning across Europe and extending to the present day. It also explores the reasons behind the enduring prohibition of warfare for clergy, despite the significant shifts in canon law.

LAWRENCE G. DUGGAN, a Professor of History at the University of Delaware and a research fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, has undertaken this comprehensive study to unravel the complexities of the clergy-warfare relationship.

Weight: 438g
Dimension: 158 x 233 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781783274000