The status of the Catholic Church in Republic of Venice in the late Middle Ages

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In the 13th - 15th centuries, the Catholic Church exerted an enormous influence on social and political life in most European countries. It also played a major role in the sacrum-profanum relations while remaining an important factor in shaping the religious life of people at the time. Venice, unlike any other Italian state, subordinated the Church to the political interests of the Republic, which strove to assimilate the prerogatives of European emperors and rulers with Greek traditions, always present in Venetian history, especially with relation to the Church. This was reflected, for instance, in a system whereby clergy were elected by the Senate, in public taxation levied on the Church on a par with duties paid by laymen, and in a prohibition for cloisters to give refuge to the Republic’s political opponents. A decree of the Magior Consiglio of 1238 excluded all clergymen from diplomatic services, while another of 1434 deprived them of the right to be envoys to Rome. Further rulings in the 15lh century forbade them to serve in the capacity of notaries and scribes and removed them from any Councils. The state made sure that clergy were enlightened and lived up to high moral standards but that they attended to church affairs rather than political issues. Church property was under constant supervision of lay authority and clerics accused of non-ecclesiastic crimes faced trial before a state court. When the Senate or the Consiglio dei Dieci debated a matter involving the clergy or relations with Rome, all councilors who had relatives among churchmen or were known for their pro-Papal stance had their vote suspended. Venice boldly declared its supremacy over the clergy, who felt the weight of the state’s authority over them, which is why no patriarch or bishop ever acted as a political opponent to his state. Even the highest Church officials in Venice frequently gave priority to the good of the state over Church interests. At the same time, Venice tried to preserve the trappings of respect for the Apostolic See, successfully securing the title of a "holy and apostolic city" yet one with a dose of independence.