"Although it be not displeasing to the Lord, but rather acceptable to Him, that the Jewish Dispersion should live and serve under Christian princes * * * they greatly offend in the sight of God’s Divine Majesty who prefer the offspring of the Crucifiers before those who are the heirs of Christ. * * * It has come to our knowledge that in the kingdom of France Jews have so much liberty that, under a species of usury — by which they not only extort interest, but interest from interest — they obtain control of the goods of the churches and the possessions of the Christians. * * * Furthermore, although it was decreed in the Lateran Council that Jews be not permitted to have Christian servants in their homes, either as tutors for their children or for domestic service, or for any reason whatsoever, they still persist in having Christians as servants and nurses, with whom they commit abominations of a kind which it rather becomes you to punish than us to explain. And again, although the same Council laid it down that the testimony of Christians against Jews is to be admitted, even when the former use Jewish witnesses against Christians, and decreed that in a case of this kind anyone who would prefer Jews before Christians is to be condemned as anathema, yet up to the present time things are so carried on in the kingdom of France that the testimony of Christians against Jews is not believed, whereas Jews are admitted as witnesses against Christians. And at times, when they to whom Jews have loaned money with usury produce Christian witnesses about the facts of payment, THE DEED WHICH THE CHRISTIAN DEBTOR THROUGH NEGLIGENCE INDISCREETLY LEFT WITH THEM IS BELIEVED RATHER THAN THE WITNESSES WHOM THEY BRING FORWARD. On Good Friday also, contrary to the law of old, they walk through the streets and public squares, and meeting Christians who everywhere according to custom go to adore the Crucifix, they deride them and strive to prevent them from this duty of adoration. We warn and exhort Your Serene Majesty in the Lord (adding the remission of your sins) that you force the Jews from their presumption * * * and see to it that due punishment be meted out to all such blasphemers, and that an easy pardon be not given to delinquents."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Migne, Patrologia, CCXV, 501. See The Talmud Unmasked by J. B. Pranaitis, pp. 90-91
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Pope_Innocent_III
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III (Latin: Innocentius III; born Lotario dei Conti di Segni (anglicized as Lothar of Segni); 1160 or 1161 – 16 July 1216), was the head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 January 1198 to his death.
11 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Pope Innocent III →
Related Quotes
"After the wretched fall of the kingdom of Jerusalem, after the lamentable slaughter of the people of Christendom, aft…"
"For behold, our inheritance has gone to strangers, our houses to alien people. ... The sepulcher of the Lord, which t…"
"Who, then, in a case of such great emergency shall refuse to pay obedience to Jesus Christ? When he comes to stand be…"
"O how great a benefit will result from this cause; how many, converted to penitence, have handed themselves over by s…"
"Know then that whoever denies aid to the Redeemer in this time of his need is culpably harsh and harshly culpable. Fo…"
"...the Christian people possessed almost all the Saracen provinces until after the time of Saint Gregory. But after t…"
"As Cain was a wanderer and an outcast, not to be killed by anyone but marked with the sign of fear on his forehead, s…"
"Although Christian piety tolerates the Jews ... whose own fault commits them to perpetual slavery ... and allows them…"
"Crusading in general had Innocent's full support. War against the infidel was 'the battle of Christ', and he shared t…"
"He was vigorous and able, good and clever, a right man at a most critical period for the coming of the XIIIth century…"