Why were Pope Gregory VII's contributions lasting?

Answer 1

A:

Gregory VII was the first pope in several centuries to rigorously enforce the Church's ancient policy of celibacy for the Catholic clergy. In 1074, with his mistress Countess Matilda by his side, Gregory issued an edict ordering his priests to abandon their wives. To the extent that he was succesful, the result was an increase in concubinage and homosexuality among the clergy. John W. Casperson (A Chalice of Miracles) says that in 1095 Pope Urban II ordered married priests who ignored celibacy to be imprisoned and their wives and children sold into slavery, indicating just how unsuccessful this reform had been. Thomas P. Doyle, A. W. R. Sipe and Patrick J. Wall (Sex, Priests and Secret Codes: The Catholic Church's 2,000-Year Paper Trail of Sexual Abuse) say that the primary historical sources from later centuries and the scholarly studies of these texts indicate that celibacy violations with women were far more common among the secular clergy but not unknown among the monks. On the other hand, the monks became known for the frequency of homosexual activity, especially with young boys.

Gregory also attacked the practice of simony, but this reform met with strong resistance, particularly from the higher clergy. The Church's continued involvement in the practice of simony shows that in the longer term, he was entirely unsuccessful.

His most enduring contribution was to define that the pope was to be the supreme leader of the Church, a position that was further strengthened by later popes, and continues to the present day.

Catholic Answer:

I am not sure which contributions you are referring to in your question. The year 1073 was the first year of the reign of Pope Saint Gregory VII and most reforms came about later in his papacy. Gregory did issue an edict forbidding the faithful from attending any Mass presided over by any cleric known to be married or living with a concubine, an act considered to be ipso factoexcommunication. Gregory, himself, had only one mistress, the Church, to whom he was fiercely devoted. He is not listed as a sexually active pope (see related links). He is best remembered for the Investiture Controversy, particularly with Henry IV of Germany. Gregory insisted that only the pope could make ecclesiastic appointments. This met with considerable resistance throughout Europe.

At the time of his papal election on April 22, 1073, Gregory was only an archdeacon and had to be first ordained a priest and then a bishop before he could ascend the throne of Peter. This was accomplished on June 30, 1073.