Synod of Ferns: 1240 AD

In 1240, the Bishop of Ferns convened a synod at Saint Peter's Church in Wexford to address critical issues affecting the clergy and the church's authority. The synod mandated the proper payment of tithes, ensuring that rectors and vicars' benefices were managed responsibly after their death. It prohibited clerics from engaging in secular business to maintain their moral integrity and outlined severe penalties for those who violated ecclesiastical laws, including excommunication for various...