Regensburg Interim
Encyclopedia
The Regensburg Interim (Interim of Ratisbon) was a temporary settlement of 1541 in matters of religion, entered into by Emperor Charles V with the Protestants.
It was published at the conclusion of the Imperial Diet
, 29 July, 1541, known as the Diet of Ratisbon. It was based on the result of the previous conference between Catholics and Protestants, in which an agreement had been reached on the idea of justification
and other points of doctrine. Consequently the imperial "recess" enacted:
Owing to the opposition of the Protestants Charles V, in a secret declaration, made them concessions which practically nullified the recess. The articles agreed upon were to be accepted in the sense of their theologians; the monasteries and chapter-houses might be called on to inaugurate a reform; the ecclesiastics, monasteries, and chapter-houses, that had embraced the Confession of Augsburg, were to remain in the full possession of their property; the Protestants were not to compel the subjects of Catholic princes to embrace their faith, but if anyone came to them spontaneously, he was not to be hindered; the members of the imperial court of justice were not to be molested, if they turned Protestants; and the recess of Augsburg was to have force only in matters not appertaining to religion.
It was published at the conclusion of the Imperial Diet
Reichstag (Holy Roman Empire)
The Imperial Diet was the Diet, or general assembly, of the Imperial Estates of the Holy Roman Empire.During the period of the Empire, which lasted formally until 1806, the Diet was not a parliament in today's sense; instead, it was an assembly of the various estates of the realm...
, 29 July, 1541, known as the Diet of Ratisbon. It was based on the result of the previous conference between Catholics and Protestants, in which an agreement had been reached on the idea of justification
Justification (theology)
Rising out of the Protestant Reformation, Justification is the chief article of faith describing God's act of declaring or making a sinner righteous through Christ's atoning sacrifice....
and other points of doctrine. Consequently the imperial "recess" enacted:
- that the adjustment of the religious question should be postponed until the next general council or imperial diet;
- that meanwhile the Protestants should not go beyond or against the articles agreed upon;
- that an ecclesiastical reform be inaugurated by the prelatePrelateA prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
s; - that the Peace of Nuremberg (1532) should be maintained;
- that monasteries and chapter-houses should remain intact;
- that the ecclesiastics should retain their possessions;
- that the Protestants should not draw anyone to their side;
- that all judicial proceedings in matters of religion should be suspended; that the imperial court of justice (ReichskammergerichtReichskammergerichtThe Reichskammergericht or Imperial Chamber Court was one of two highest judicial institutions in the Holy Roman Empire, the other one being the Aulic Council in Vienna. It was founded in 1495 by the Imperial Diet in Worms...
) should remain as before; - and that the recess of Augsburg (1530) should remain in force.
Owing to the opposition of the Protestants Charles V, in a secret declaration, made them concessions which practically nullified the recess. The articles agreed upon were to be accepted in the sense of their theologians; the monasteries and chapter-houses might be called on to inaugurate a reform; the ecclesiastics, monasteries, and chapter-houses, that had embraced the Confession of Augsburg, were to remain in the full possession of their property; the Protestants were not to compel the subjects of Catholic princes to embrace their faith, but if anyone came to them spontaneously, he was not to be hindered; the members of the imperial court of justice were not to be molested, if they turned Protestants; and the recess of Augsburg was to have force only in matters not appertaining to religion.