ACTA NON VERBA

[ReveredOwl 5639]

 

ACTA NON VERBA

ACTIONS NOT WORDS

22nd of Owyn’s Light, 1766

 

Dear Faithful Canonists,

            I publish this letter today to you all to express my opinions on the duties that the Holy Canonist Church is currently failing to perform and what the Holy Canonist Church should be doing instead of involving itself in secular politics. It saddens me to see that the curia has once more been stacked to the brim with career politicians and only a couple of pure and faithful men trying to lead us into the light. Though these dim lights in the curia seem to be going out at each golden bull, a cardinal stripped for petty reasons simply for speaking their opinion on the way that the church is heading, for example Vice-Chancellor Rodrigo was stripped from all his titles without ever being told to his face. He was unceremoniously, like myself, stripped from his position by the Pontiff simply for signing a letter written by cardinal Bram regarding the libelous accusations levied against me by cardinal Laurence. When I spoke to the Pontiff after my removal, he promised me that no other clergymen would ever be treated in such a way and yet there was. If a man, let alone the Pontiff, can not keep his word on such a simple and easy promise, how can I trust a word that comes from their mouth?

 

 Many of the current members of the curia believe that the ideals and opinions of the Wigbrechtians are only a minor part of the church and thus irrelevant and simply brushed aside. They believe this simply because there are not many who share our opinion and have the bravery to speak out on it for fear of being unjustly punished by the scheming curia. It must be noted that whilst yes, the Kaedreni clergy are vocal in their beliefs, they are not the majority. Cardinal Laurence has created a great division in our most holy institution, essentially tearing ourselves in two with two separate factions on either side of divide and yet no attempt is made to repair this division or atleast build a bridge over it. The Wigbrechtian Friars and normal clergy believe in the churches core values, charity, spreading GOD’s word, assisting the poor and spreading the message of GOD and the Kaedreni side wishes to levy their position in the church and continue to accumulate secular positions when one should hold none when in the church, the cardinal looking down upon the poor and homeless as lesser people not worthy of his time, his own words. Any attempt at discussion or debate is promptly shut down or silenced by leadership so how can such a division be repaired? Not to mention that cardinal Laurence, the Kaedreni clergy and government sent a letter to the Pontiff demanding that he defrock me and to force Bram to apologise for standing up to them on my behalf or risk a dangerous precedent being set, one might even consider that blackmail.

 

I believe that the current division in the church is irreparable until these secular priests either step down from their secular positions to focus on the church and their clerical duties or they should step down as members of the clergy for one can only ever have one task. When one is a priest and in a position of secular power there are conflicts of time and effort, clergymen should put one hundred percent of their time and effort into the church and not divide their time between the two. Actions speak louder than words and the Kaedreni clergy have clearly made their beliefs known but what have they done to assist the church, truly? They claim that the clergy is more alive than before, I conceded that this is true but at what cost? A church stacked full of greedy, manipulative and career politicians is not a church worthy of serving GOD, I would rather a church with a handful of devoted people than one full of pompous and greedy men.

 

I must admit, many of the actions I have taken have been mistakes and all men are capable of sin. It is for this reason that I apologise for the Duke of Helena over the confusion and fracas that occured in Helena. It is unbecoming of a member of the frock to act in such manner and I beg GOD for his forgiveness. Though every action I have ever taken, I believe, has been in the service of GOD and spreading his message

 

“The relationship between the Creator and His Church is one of interdependence. GOD offers salvation to his Faithful. The church is the house of GOD, built as a center of worship and community.” An extract from a Thesis written by Abbess Lorina Carrion prior to breaking her vows.

 

Above is an extract from a thesis written by Lorina Carrion and her message still stands true today, the church is an institution of learning, worship and community. Nobody should ever be permitted to use the church for their own political gain, it is even stated as such in Dogma so I am unsure why the college of cardinal permits this heresy to continue. The Wigbrechtians and clergy who agree with this letter continue to travel the realm to perform their duties to GOD, spread his message, teach, distribute alms and guide the lost and will continue to do so even if punished by the curia for speaking their opinions on the lows that our most holy institution has been dragged down to for it is our sworn duty. All members of the clergy, not just the Wigbrechtian Friars, should have this sense of duty and I beg his Holiness to institute new measures for all members of the Holy Canonist Church to follow. These new rules would define the humility and way a clergyman should perform their duties. A clergyman must never live in a palace, mansion or manor but in a poor man's home or church spire, a clergyman must never adorn rich and expensive attire but adorn wrags and poor materials, a clergyman must never be lax in their duties and should work to provide food for those in need, they should all be adept farmers, a clergyman must never sit on a throne or higher than their fellow man and lastly  clergyman must never plot or scheme against their fellow man. These new measures will help to bring our church back down onto a level of humility, poverty and back to our core roots where we were not misguided into a life of luxury and privilege, I see no valid reason why any sane clergyman would refuse to follow these rules, even cardinal Laurence, other than vanity and an extreme sense of self-importance.

 

“For I have given to you the pleasures of the world, and they shall comfort you in the theater of virtue. 6 And you shall take them carefully, and shall not become a creature of worldly indulgence as the beasts of the earth.” (Virtue 3:5))

 

I spoke to his Holiness a few saints days ago and professed my concerns for the state of the church when he passes, many of us fear that the church will fall into the hands of the pruvian clergy and into the clutches of vice and greed, something that we can not allow to happen unless we wish for a repeat of the venomous John of Darfey. So to the faithful Canonists of the realm, I beg you to follow the guidance of true canonist clergymen, not men who abuse their position and misguide you with their whispers and plots. To his Holiness I ask, why have you allowed these men to misguide us and misuse their position in the church to create such divisions? Why does the Curia silence debate and discussion that could heal this division and why are there clergymen who look down upon the poor as lessers? The congregation of faithful canonists expects actions from the college of cardinals and the church to fix and repair the state of our church and not expect a half-hearted letter promising much but delivering little.

 

GOD bless all true canonists!

 

[Froschli 838]

The former Vice Chancellor, Cardinal and Archbishop is deeply moved by Brother Boniface’s words. He then proceeds to smile and says humbly “GOD bless you.”

[VIROS 2915]

“Boniface claims he fears a Darfeyist clergy, yet he advocates for a clergy immune to civil trial. He claims by virtue of priesthood that he has absolute right to travel the Empire unimpeded, to violate its laws and norms, to speak sedition against the authorities of the Church and the Emperor—all so long as they wear humble brown robes. This is Darfeyism: cloaking oneself in false humility to cover up the arrogance of putting oneself above the law,” states James II to his Curia upon receiving the missive. ”The prophets of our faith were girded in finery by GOD upon receiving their vocation; the great High Pontiffs and Cardinals of yore held civil positions alongside their secular counterparts. Monasticism is an honored tradition, but it is not the only path—the Exalted themselves did not swear vows of celibacy and poverty. Put simply, the ‘Canonism’ that Friar Boniface envisions is at odds with the history of our faith. He goes too far by attempting to enforce the life of a mendicant friar upon every priest. He believes his vows make him more virtuous than his fellows, and places himself as judge and jury of their salvation.”

[seannie 7443]

Deep within the ugly and cold stone walls of the Haeseni Palace, kept awake during the night by the cold winter chills, Sigismund finds himself pondering over the letter upon his desk, a couple candles illuminating his office. ‘ACTA NON VERBA’, still fresh in this King’s thoughts – the Pruvian Camp, which now holds the majority of the Curia, had proven themselves the anti-thesis of what the Church of Canon stood for. The Holy Pontiff, in a bid to secure authority and influence, had ignorantly allowed himself to be led into a trap, snared by the head Pruvian himself, Cardinal Laurence. Nepotism crept through the ranks, Cardinals appointed in a mere day, puppets strung up on strings, all the while they claimed a righteous mandate.

 

It was clear to Sigismund that the Church was rapidly degrading as a result of these machinations – allowed to fall into disarray by those in the Novellen Palace. Guilty in their part, as they remained indifferent to the happenings occurring within this most Holy Institution.

 

Acta non Verba remained still in the King’s mind. Action would have to be taken, or else be damned forever as a man who allowed the Church to fall into ruination. This man took up his quill, and got to work.  

[EmbryoGod 823]

“As the shepherd’s of His Flock we are more than obliged to hold ourselves to a standard of humility and poverty that far exceeds the expectations of the flock themselves.” Father Bernd agreed, giving the letter a proper read. “One of the Church’s greatest strengths has been its capacity to reflect internally upon itself, and I hope the past sins of our forebearers are not again repeated.” 

[ReveredOwl 5639]

10 minutes ago, VIROS said:

“Boniface claims he fears a Darfeyist clergy, yet he advocates for a clergy immune to civil trial. He claims by virtue of priesthood that he has absolute right to travel the Empire unimpeded, to violate its laws and norms, to speak sedition against the authorities of the Church and the Emperor—all so long as they wear humble brown robes. This is Darfeyism: cloaking oneself in false humility to cover up the arrogance of putting oneself above the law,” states James II to his Curia upon receiving the missive. ”The prophets of our faith were girded in finery by GOD upon receiving their vocation; the great High Pontiffs and Cardinals of yore held civil positions alongside their secular counterparts. Monasticism is an honored tradition, but it is not the only path—the Exalted themselves did not swear vows of celibacy and poverty. Put simply, the ‘Canonism’ that Friar Boniface envisions is at odds with the history of our faith. He goes too far by attempting to enforce the life of a mendicant friar upon every priest. He believes his vows make him more virtuous than his fellows, and places himself as judge and jury of their salvation.”

“At long last, finally the Pontiff has decided to reply to one of many letters, truly a joyous day.” said Boniface, smiling the sun’s smile.

 

“I fear a Darfeyist clergy when the Pruvians take over from you, which they inevitably will do so long as they continue to strip those in opposition and replace them with their cronies. Once in power they will defrock and excommunicate anybody who disagrees with them or dare to speak out. I have never spoke any form of sedition against the church nor emperor and challenge you to find anything truly seditious, I have only ever advocated for ones love of the church and to stay faithful. I never once claimed that I was immune to civil trial, not once. What I claimed was that a clergyman could not be put on trial for violating the laws they accused me of as that is up to you to decide, and after speaking to you, you told me I was not guilty of breaking anyway. Furthermore, I find it preposterous that you accuse me of Darfeyism. I have devoted my life to helping others less fortunate and in what little spare time I have, I spend writing in hopes for a better church in the future, it is a dream of mine that one day our church will be whole without anybody abusing their positions. Monasticism is of course one path that you can take, there are of course others. But being a career-politician over clerical duties is not one of these paths. The rules I proposed would humble the clergymen and make them appreciate each other more. A clergymen who adorns themselves in frocks of silks, pelts and expensive materials has no association or relatability to the common man and it simply feeds into vanity and greed. What I have proposed has always been canonism, it is in no way at odds with our history. Since when was faithful, humble and charitable clergymen spreading the word of GOD and helping others at odds with our history and it is not something I should have to force on anybody, all clergymen should do such out of the goodness of their hearts. My vows do not make me more virtuous than my common man, but my actions make me more pious and humble than some of my colleagues who don’t even bother to lift an alms bucket or a coin for the poor. I have never implied or said anything about being judge and jury of somebodies salvation, that is for GOD and him alone, I am unsure as to where you have this.” replied Boniface.

[argonian 14254]

“Brother Boniface never once complained about the clergymen on the Cabinet, in the Supreme Court, and occupying a variety of other government positions... until he took a disliking to Cardinal Pruvia doing so. Then suddenly it became an issue. Hypocrite.” Conrad remarks, tossing his copy of the thesis aside. 

[ReveredOwl 5639]

8 minutes ago, argonian said:

“Brother Boniface never once complained about the clergymen on the Cabinet, in the Supreme Court, and occupying a variety of other government positions... until he took a disliking to Cardinal Pruvia doing so. Then suddenly it became an issue. Hypocrite.” Conrad remarks, tossing his copy of the thesis aside. 

"I barely ever saw or noticed theses cardinals but I have always been against clergymen holding secular positions. Just that the ones you mentioned did not degrade the church whilst performing their secular tasks." Replied Boniface.

[yopplwasupxxx 5946]

“Good thing I’m a secular humanist and atheist hahahaha” Arthur Callahan says then does a jig in his hideout bunker with fellow Harrenite Jakub MacDonough @Doggedwasupxxx

[Urahra 5780]

Lorina in the Seven Skies when she still gets quoted in religious stuff:

 

 

“Eyyyyyyyy”

[thesmellypocket 1859]

"I think that if a priest spends 99 per cent of his time embroiled in politics and only 1 per cent hearing Confessions, it is a serious problem, and those that point it out certainly can't be dismissed as heterodox or Darfeyist." A High Elf scholar says.