Separating Kingdom from Empire

The Feast of Anselm of Canterbury

Anselm, bishop of Canterbury: Detail from a stained glass window in the church of Our Lady & St Benedict in Ampleforth. Used with permission.

“We decree that no one of the clergy shall receive the investiture of a bishopric or abbey or church from the hand of an emperor or king or of any lay person, male or female.”

So stated Pope Gregory VII in 1078, de…