Innocent III.
From Book 3 of the Decretals, tit, V. on Prebends and Dignities, cap. 28.
(Sees. vii. de reform, cap. 4.)
It was with much foresight prohibited at the Council of Lateran, that no one should receive different ecclesiastical dignities, or several parochial churches, contrary to the institutes of the sacred canons; otherwise the receiver should lose one so received, and the person conferring it should be deprived of the power of bestowing it. But because, by reason of the presumption and greediness of certain persons, none or rare advantage has hitherto resulted from the aforesaid statute, we, desirous to meet [the ever] more evidently and more expressly, determine by our present decree, that whoever shall receive any benefice having the cure of souls annexed, if he previously held such a benefice, shall be by the very act deprived thereof, and if perchance he should strive to retain it, he be also deprived of the other. He, also, to whom the granting of the former belongs, may freely confer that, after the reception of the other, upon the person to whom it may seem to be conferred deservedly, and if he shall delay to confer it beyond six months, the collation is not only to devolve upon others, according to the statute of the Council of Lateran, but also, he is to be obliged to make over as much out of his own proceeds for the good of the church to which the benefice belongs, as it is evident has been derived since the time of its homing vacant. The same regulation we decree to be observed with respect to personates, adding, that no one is to presume to hold in the same church a pluralitv of dignities or personates. In the case, however, or exalted and learned persons, who are to be honoured with greater benefices, a dispensation may be granted by the Apostolic See, when reason shall require it.
Innocent III.
Ibid. cap. 29.
(Sess. vii. de reform, cap. 3.)
It is too grievous and too absurd, that some prelates of churches, when they are able to promote qualified persons
