2893

. January 5. Jaffa. [Cardinal-]Bishop Odo (Eudes de Châteauroux) of Tusculum (Frascati), papal legate, writes to the higher clergy in his legation, relating that the salvation of souls is more important than any temporal gain, but he has learned that some greedy men place obstacles in the way of Saracens or other infidels whom they hold captive so that they are not instructed in the faith and baptized, even though those Saracens and others profess the catholic faith and seek baptism. The legate forbids this placing of obstacles to baptism for Saracen or other slaves to profess the faith. Nevertheless, the legate does not want this to affect the service they owe their lords, since he does not intend to grant freedom to those who are baptized. Those who place such obstacles while knowing the wishes of such slaves shall be ipso facto excommunicated. To avoid the excuse of ignorance, the addressees and their successors shall publicize this statute twice yearly, on Palm Sunday and Epiphany, and have the statute written in the books of their churches for the permanent record.