Edmond Richer
Encyclopedia
Edmond Richer was a French theologian known for several works advocating the Gallican theory
, that the Pope
's power was limited by authority of bishop
s, and by temporal governments
.
and trustee
(syndic) of the Theological Faculty.
After the condemnation by the Parlement of Paris of Cardinal Bellarmine's treatise on the temporal power of the pope (1610), Richer developed, in his Libellus de Ecclesiastica et Politica Potestate (in French as De la puissance ecclésiastique et politique, Paris, 1611) the theory that the government of the Church should be aristocratical, not monarchical. Maria de' Medici, then regent in France, opposed Richer; and, when he had been censured by an assembly of bishops held at Sens
, presided over by Cardinal du Perron, she had him deposed, and a new syndic elected (1612). Imprisoned, he retracted in 1629 his views, under pressure from Cardinal Richelieu.
's works for publication, and with them other anti-papal writings.
In his Historia Conciliorum Generalium as with other works, Richer elaborated upon and defended Gallicanism, a theory that described the limits of papal power, and provided one of the early constructs of what later evolved as the concept of "separation of church and state
". Richer's explanation and defense of the theory and practice of Gallicanism was an expression of French resistance to the power and reach of the Pope during that period.
Gallicanism
Gallicanism is the belief that popular civil authority—often represented by the monarchs' authority or the State's authority—over the Catholic Church is comparable to that of the Pope's...
, that the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
's power was limited by authority of bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s, and by temporal governments
State (polity)
A state is an organized political community, living under a government. States may be sovereign and may enjoy a monopoly on the legal initiation of force and are not dependent on, or subject to any other power or state. Many states are federated states which participate in a federal union...
.
Life
After schooling at the College of Cardinal Lemoine, Richer went on to study at the Sorbonne University. There he served as doctor of theologyDoctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
and trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
(syndic) of the Theological Faculty.
After the condemnation by the Parlement of Paris of Cardinal Bellarmine's treatise on the temporal power of the pope (1610), Richer developed, in his Libellus de Ecclesiastica et Politica Potestate (in French as De la puissance ecclésiastique et politique, Paris, 1611) the theory that the government of the Church should be aristocratical, not monarchical. Maria de' Medici, then regent in France, opposed Richer; and, when he had been censured by an assembly of bishops held at Sens
Sens
Sens is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.Sens is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is crossed by the Yonne and the Vanne, which empties into the Yonne here.-History:...
, presided over by Cardinal du Perron, she had him deposed, and a new syndic elected (1612). Imprisoned, he retracted in 1629 his views, under pressure from Cardinal Richelieu.
Works
In 1606 he edited Jean GersonJean Gerson
Jean Charlier de Gerson , French scholar, educator, reformer, and poet, Chancellor of the University of Paris, a guiding light of the conciliar movement and one of the most prominent theologians at the Council of Constance, was born at the village of Gerson, in the bishopric of Reims in...
's works for publication, and with them other anti-papal writings.
In his Historia Conciliorum Generalium as with other works, Richer elaborated upon and defended Gallicanism, a theory that described the limits of papal power, and provided one of the early constructs of what later evolved as the concept of "separation of church and state
Separation of church and state
The concept of the separation of church and state refers to the distance in the relationship between organized religion and the nation state....
". Richer's explanation and defense of the theory and practice of Gallicanism was an expression of French resistance to the power and reach of the Pope during that period.