King John Excommunicated

King John of England wanted John de Gray for Archbishop of Canterbury, but Pope Innocent III consecrated Stephen Langton after a disputed election by the cathedral chapter of Canterbury. John would not allow Langton to enter Canterbury, and so the pope put the country try under Interdict. John himself was later excommunicated.The Interdict started March 1208, and meant that priests were not allowed to perform church services. This was devastating to a devout population. It was not a complete shutting down of the sacraments, however. Concerned about people's souls, baptisms and last rites for the dying (confession and being granted absolution) were allowed, lest innocent people go to Hell.John (shown here with his dogs) treated the Interdict as an act of war and became hostile to priests in England. Some priests were willing to ignore the Interdict and perform services; those who were obedient to the pope had their estates seized. John also arrested priests' concubines, fining the…

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