The breadth of the topics covered at the Fourth Lateran Council in 1215 is suggested in the following summary of some of the canons it issued:

Canon 1: Statement of the basic doctrines of the Catholic faith and the dogma of Transubstantiation.

Canon 3: Procedures and penalties to be used against heretics and their protectors.

Canon 5: Proclamation of papal primacy as recognized since antiquity. The order of primacy after the Pope is the bishops of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem.

Canon 8: Procedures to be used in accusations against churchmen.

Canons 14-17: Legislation against inappropriate behavior of the clergy.

Canon 21: Requirement that every parishioner make a yearly confession to his or her parish priest.

Canons 23-30: Regulation of ecclesiastical elections and the provision of benefices and other ecclesiastical properties.

Canons 78-79: Requirements that Jews and Moslems wear a special dress to distinguish themselves from Christians...