Editing Jansenism (section)

=== ''Case of Conscience'': 1701–1709 ===
The tensions generated by the continuing presence of these elements in the French Roman Catholic Church came to a head in the Case of Conscience of 1701, which was initiated by a priest from [[Clermont-Ferrand]]. The case involved the question of whether or not [[absolution]] should be given to a cleric who refused to affirm the infallibility of the Church in matters ''de facto'' (even if he did not preach against it but merely maintained a 'respectful silence'). A provincial conference, consisting of forty theology professors from the Sorbonne, headed by [[Noël Alexandre]], declared that the cleric should receive absolution.[[File:Clement XI.jpg|left|thumb|[[Pope Clement XI]] (1649–1721) promulgated the apostolic constitution {{lang|la|[[Unigenitus Dei Filius]]}} in 1713, which condemned Quesnel and the Jansenists.]]

The publication of this 'Case of Conscience' provoked outrage among the anti-Jansenist elements in the Roman Catholic Church. The decision given by the scholars was condemned by several French bishops; by Cardinal [[Louis Antoine de Noailles]], [[archbishop of Paris]]; by the theological faculties at Leuven, [[University of Douai|Douai]] and eventually Paris; and, finally, in 1703, by [[Pope Clement XI]]. The scholars who had signed the Case of Conscience then backed away, all of the signatories withdrew their signatures and the theologian who had championed the result of the Case of Conscience, {{Interlanguage link|Nicolas Petitpied|fr}}, was expelled from the Sorbonne.

Louis XIV and his grandson, [[Philip V of Spain]], then asked the pope to issue a papal bull condemning the practice of maintaining a 'respectful silence' as to the issue of the infallibility of the Church in matters ''de facto''.

The pope obliged, issuing the apostolic constitution {{lang|la|[[Vineam Domini Sabaoth]]}}, on 16 July 1705. At the subsequent [[Assembly of the French Clergy]], all those present, except P.-Jean-Fr. de Percin de Montgaillard, [[bishop of Saint-Pons]], voted to accept {{lang|la|Vineam Domini Sabaoth}} and Louis XIV promulgated it as binding law in France.