The Twelve Conclusions of the Lollards

The Twelve Conclusions of the Lollards is a Middle English religious text document containing statements by leaders of the English medieval movement, the Lollards, inspired by teachings of John Wycliffe. The Conclusions were written in 1395. The text document was presented to the Parliament of England and nailed to the doors of Westminster Abbey and St Paul's Cathedral as a placard (usual medieval method for publishing). The manifesto suggested the expanded treatise Thirty-Seven Conclusions (Thirty-seven Articles against Corruptions in the Church) for those that wished more in-depth information.

The text summarizes twelve areas in which the Lollards argued that the Christian Church in England needed reform.

The first conclusion asserts that the English Church has become too involved in affairs of temporal power, led by the bad example of the Church of Rome.

The second conclusion asserts that the ceremonies used for the ordination of priests and bishops are without scriptural basis or precedent.

The third conclusion asserts that the practice of clerical celibacy has encouraged sodomy among the clergy.

The fourth conclusion asserts that the doctrine of transubstantiation leads to idolatrous worship of everyday objects (the communion wafers).

The fifth conclusion asserts that the exorcisms and hallowings carried out by priests are a sort of witchcraft and are incompatible with Christian theology.

The sixth conclusion asserts that it is inappropriate for men who hold high office in the Church to simultaneously hold positions of great temporal power.

The seventh conclusion asserts that prayers for the souls of specific individual deceased persons is uncharitable, since it implicitly excludes all the other blessed dead who are not being prayed for, and that the practice of requesting prayers for the dead by making financial contributions is a sort of bribery that corrupts the Church.

The eighth conclusion asserts that the practices of pilgrimage and the veneration of relics at best are ineffectual for spiritual merit and at worst approach idolatry in their worship of created objects.

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