A Chastisement Of Clergy

Sacerdotes habet Britannia sed insipienties; quamplurimos ministros, sed imprudentes; clericos, sed raptores subdolos; pastores, ut dicuntur, sed occisioni animarum lupos paratos; quippe non commoda plebi providentes, sed proprii plenitudinem ventris quaerentes: ecclesiae domus habentes, sed turpis lucri gratia eas adeuntes; populos docentes, sed praebendo pessima exampla, vitia malosque mores; raro sacrificantes, et nunquam puro corde inter altaria stantes; plebem ob peccata non corripientes, nimirum eadem agentes; praecepta Christi spernentes, et suas libidines modis omnibus implere curantes; sedem Petri apsotoli immundis pedibus usurpantes, sed merito cupiditatis in Judae traditoris pestilentem cathedram decidentes; veritatem pro inimico odientes, et mendaciis ac si charissimis fratribus faventes; justos inopes immanes quasi angues torvis vultibus conspicantes, et sceleratos divites absque ullo verecundiae respectu sicut coelestes angelos venerantes; egenis eleemosynam esse dandam summis e labiis praedicentes, sed ipsi vel obolum non dantes; nefanda populi scelera tacentes, et euas injurias quasi Christo irrogatas amplificantes; religiosam forte matrem seu soroes domo pellentes, et externas veluti secretiori ministerio familiares indecenter levantes, vel potius, ut vera dicam, licet inepta non tam mihi quam talia agentibus, humiliantes; ecclesiasticos post haec gradus propensius quam regna coelorum ambientes, et tyrannico ritu acceptos defendentes, nec tamen legitimis moribus illustrantes; ad praecepta sanctorum, si aliquando duntaxat audierient quae ab illis saepissime audienda erant, oscitantes ac stupidos, et ad ludicra et ineptas saecularium hominum fabulas, ac si iter viae quae mortis pandunt, strenuos et intentos. Sanctus Gildas Sapiens, De Excidio et Conquestu Britanniae Migne PL 69 367-368

Britain has priests, but they are fools; very many ministers, but they are ignorant; clerics, but they are deceitful thieves; pastors, as they are called, but they are rather wolves ready for the killing of souls since they do not look to the good of the people but seek the fullness of their own stomachs; they have the houses of the church, but they enter them for the sake of base gain; they teach the people but they present to them the worst examples, vices, and evil conduct; they rarely sacrifice and then never with pure hearts do they stand among the altars; they do not rebuke the people for their sins, for they do the very same things; they disregard the precepts of Christ and are in a rush to indulge every one of their own desires; they usurp with unclean feet the seat of the apostle Peter but on account of their covetousness they tumble into the pestilent chair of the traitor Judas; they hate truth as an enemy and they favour lies as their most beloved brothers; they look on the righteous, the poor and the powerless with savage countenances, as if they were pitiless serpents, and they reverence villainous rich men, without any hint of shame, as if such men were heavenly angels; they preach with outward lips that alms are to be given to the needy but they themselves do not give a penny; they are silent about the crimes of the people and shout loudly about their own injuries as if they were done to Christ; they drive out of house a religious mother, perhaps, or sisters, and as if it were some secret office they indecently welcome others, or rather, to speak truly, not of myself but of those who do such things, they degrade themselves by such deeds; after these things they are ambitious for ecclesiastical dignities rather than for the kingdom of heaven; they protect in tyrannical fashion what office they have gained, not however adorning such with rightful conduct; they yawn and are unmoved by the precepts of the saints, if indeed they have at some time heard what they should hear most often, but to the ludicrous and foolish fables of worldly men, as if such things were the way of life which lead to death, they are eager and intent.  Saint Gildas the Wise, On The Destruction and Ruin of Britain,