Confessors Who Had Served as Soldiers

“Once more, as for those who had formerly been promoted to any military rank and were afterward deprived of it, for the cruel and unjust reason that they chose to acknowledge their allegiance to God rather than keep the rank they held, we leave them perfectly free to choose. They may take up their former posts, if they are willing to serve as soldiers again, or else receive an honorable discharge and live in undisturbed peace. For it is fair and fitting that men who have shown such greatness of spirit and courage in facing the dangers to which they were exposed should be allowed to choose either to enjoy peaceful leisure or to take up their former rank again.