***The bishops and abbots also had a great share in the government of states in the Middle Ages. They took a leading part in the great assemblies common to most of the Germanic nations; they had a voice in the election of the kings; they performed the coronation of the kings; they lived much at the Court, and were the chief advisors of the kings.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09066a.htm***
Applause. The Church influenced governments; they were not a branch of it.
Applause. The Church influenced governments; they were not a branch of it.
No, actually, many members of the Church were a part of the nobile ruling class as well.
but the ecclesiastics were, as a rule, the only learned men, and the higher clergy, bishops and abbots, belonged to the class of the nobles.
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09066a.htm
Church leaders such as bishops and archbishops sat on the king's council and played leading roles in government (emphasis added). Bishops, who were often wealthy and came from noble families, ruled over groups of parishes called "diocese."
http://www.learner.org/interactives/middleages/religion.html
Stop kicking against the pricks!