Vatican Archives Register 6, fol. 72r (Innocent III's Sixth Pontifical Year)

[4 Comp. 5.1.4(X 5.1.24)]

 Licet autem hoc sit observandum in subditis, diligentius tamen est observandum in praelatis, qui quasi signum sunt positi ad sagittam. Et quia non possunt omnibus complacere, cum ex officio suo teneantur non solum arguere, sed etiam increpare, quin etiam interdum suspendere, nonnunquam vero ligare ---  frequenter odium multorum incurrunt et insidias patiuntur. Et ideo sancti Patres provide statuerunt, ut accusatio praelatorum non facile admittatur, ne concussis columnis corruat aedificium, nisi diligens adhibeatur cautela, per quam non solum falsae, sed etiam malignae criminationi ianua praecludatur. Verum ita voluerunt providere praelatis, ne criminarentur iniuste, ut tamen caverent, ne delinquerent insolenter, contra morbum utrumque invenientes medicinam congruam, videlicet ut criminalis accusatio, quae ad diminutionem capitis, id est degradationem, intenditur, nisi legitima praecedat inscriptio, nullatenus admittatur.

While this should be observed in the case of subjects all the more carefully should it be observed in the case of prelates who are set as a mark for the arrow[Lament. 3:12].  Prelates cannot please everyone since they are bound by their office not only to convince but also to rebuke and sometimes even to suspend and to bind.    Thus they frequently incur the hatred of many people and risk ambushes.  Therefore the holy fathers have wisely decreed that accusations against prelates should not be admitted readily without careful provision being taken to prevent false and malicious accusations lest the collapse of columns would destroy that building [Jg 16:30].  They wished to ensure that prelates are not accused unjustly and yet that at the same time they take care not to sin in an arrogant manner, finding a suitable medicine for each disease:  namely a criminal accusation that entails loss of status, that is to say degradation, shall in no wise be allowed unless it is preceded by an admonition.