Carthage, Canons 50–55

Canon 50. How many bishops should be added to the number of those ordaining, if any objection has been raised against the one to be ordained. But this should be decreed: when we have met together to choose a bishop, if any objection arises, since such things have been dealt with by us, the three are not to presume to clear the one who was to be ordained. Instead, one or two more are to be asked to join the number already mentioned, and the persons of the objectors are first to be examined among the very people for whom he was to be ordained. Last of all the objections themselves are to be considered, and only when he has been cleared in public view is he at last to be ordained. If this agrees with the mind of your holiness, let it be confirmed by the answer of your worthiness. All the bishops said: “We are well pleased.” [a]

Canon 51. That the date of Easter is to be announced by the church of Carthage. Honoratus and Urbanus the bishops said: “Since all the matters in our instructions are known, we add also what has been ordered concerning the day of Easter: that we be informed of the date always by the church of Carthage, as has been the custom, and not a short time beforehand.” Aurelius the bishop said: “If it seems good to your holiness, since we remember that we pledged ourselves some time ago to come together every year for discussion, then when we assemble, let the date of holy Easter be announced through the legates present at the council.” Honoratus and Urbanus the bishops said: “Now we ask of this present assembly that you be pleased to inform our province of that day by letter.” Aurelius the bishop said: “It must be so.” [b]

Canon 52. On visiting the provinces. Honoratus and Urbanus the bishops said: “This was commanded to us by word of mouth: since it was decreed at the Council of Hippo that each province should be visited in the time of the council, we ask that you also be pleased, this year or next, according to the order you have drawn up, to visit the province of Mauretania.” [c] Aurelius the bishop said: “About the province of Mauretania we have made no decree, because it lies on the borders of Africa; they are neighbors of the barbarians. But God grant (though I make no rash promise to do so) that we may be able to come to your province. For you should consider, brothers, that our brothers of Tripoli and of the region of the Arzuges could make this same demand too, if the occasion arose.” [d]

Canon 53. That dioceses are not to receive a bishop except with the consent of their own bishop. [e]

Epigonius the bishop said: “In many councils it has been decreed by the assembly of bishops that communities which lie within other dioceses and are governed by their bishops, and which never had bishops of their own, should not receive rulers, that is, bishops, for themselves except with the consent of the bishop under whose authority they have been. But some who have gained a certain power loathe the communion of the brothers, or at any rate, having become corrupt, claim for themselves a rule that is really tyranny. For the most part these are puffed-up and dull-witted presbyters, who lift up their heads against their own bishops, or else win the people over to themselves by feasting them or by malicious persuasion, so that by unlawful favor they may set themselves up as rulers over them. “We indeed hold fast to that glorious resolve of your mind, most devout brother Aurelius, for you have often opposed these things, paying no attention to such petitioners. But because of their evil thoughts and basely conceived designs I say this: such a community, which has always been subject within a diocese, ought not to receive a ruler, nor should it ever have a bishop of its own. So if what I have proposed seems good to the whole most holy council, let it be confirmed.” [f]

Aurelius the bishop said: “I do not oppose the proposal of our brother and fellow bishop. But I confess that this has been and will be my practice regarding those who were truly of one mind, not only with regard to the church of Carthage but in every gathering of bishops. For there are many who, as has been said, conspire with the people they deceive, tickling their ears and smoothly leading them astray. They are men of corrupt lives, or at any rate puffed up and separated from this assembly, who think to watch over their own people and never come to our council, for fear that their wickedness may be examined. “I say, if it seems good, that not only should these not keep their dioceses, but every effort should be made to have them expelled by public authority from that church of theirs which has wrongly favored them, and that they be removed even from the chief sees. For it is right that whoever holds fast to all the brothers and to the whole council should possess with full right not only his church but also its dioceses. But those who think the people are enough for them and despise the love of the brothers shall not only lose their dioceses but, as I have said, shall be stripped of their own churches by public authority, as rebels.” Honoratus and Urbanus the bishops said: “The lofty provision of your holiness wins the agreement of all our minds, and I think that what you have been pleased to propose will be confirmed by the answer of all.” All the bishops said: “Agreed! Agreed!” [g]

Canon 54. That a cleric who belongs to another bishop is under no circumstances to be received by a different one.

Epigonius the bishop said: “This has been decreed in many councils, and your wisdom, most blessed brothers, has just now confirmed it: no bishop should receive into his diocese a cleric who belongs to another, without the consent of the bishop under whose authority the cleric stands. “But I say this. Julian, who is ungrateful for the favors God has given him through my humble self, is so rash and so bold that he has done the following. There was a man whom I baptized when he was a very poor boy, entrusted to me by that same Julian, and for many years I fed him and brought him up. It is certain, as I have said, that this man was baptized in my church, by my own unworthy hands. This same man began to serve as a reader in the diocese of Mappalia, and he read there for nearly two years. Then, with a contempt for my humble self that is past understanding, the Julian I have named took this man, declared him a citizen of his own city of Vazarita, and ordained him a deacon without consulting me. “If this is allowed, most blessed brothers, let it be declared to us. But if not, let so shameless a man be restrained, so that he may in no way mix himself into anyone’s communion.” [i]

Numidius the bishop said: “If, as it appears, Julian did this without asking for your consent, or even consulting you, we all judge that it was done wrongly and unworthily. So unless Julian corrects his error and returns the cleric to your people with proper satisfaction, since what he did was against the decrees of the council, let him be condemned and separated from us for his defiance.” Epigonius the bishop said: “Our brother and colleague Victor, our father in years and the most senior of us by ordination, a man worthy of praise, wishes this petition to be made a general rule for all.”

Canon 55. That the bishop of Carthage may lawfully ordain a cleric whenever he wishes.

Aurelius the bishop said: “My brothers, please allow me to speak. It often happens that church people in need ask me for deacons, presbyters or bishops. Keeping in mind what has been ordained, I observe it: I summon the bishop of the cleric who is being asked for, and I show him how matters stand, that the people of a certain church are asking for a certain one of his clergy. Perhaps at that point they raise no objection. But it can happen that they object afterward, once the men have been formally requested by me, who, as you know, have the care of many churches and of those to be ordained. “It is right, therefore, that I should summon a fellow bishop with two or three witnesses from among us. But if he proves unwilling, what does your love think should be done? For I, as you know, brothers, by the gracious favor of God, have the care of all the churches.” [k]

Numidius the bishop said: “This see has always had the power to ordain a bishop according to the desire of each church, as he wills, and the one on whose name there was agreement.” Epigonius the bishop said: “Your good nature makes little use of your powers. You use them much less than you might, my brother, since you are good and gentle to all. For you have the power, but it is far from your practice to satisfy each bishop personally only at the first meeting. But if it is thought that the rights of this see ought to be upheld, you have the duty of supporting all the churches. So we do not give you power; we confirm the power you have. That is, you have the right, at your will, always to choose whom you wish, and to appoint leaders over the peoples and churches that have asked you to do so, whenever you wish.” Posthumianus the bishop said: “Would it be right for a bishop who had only one presbyter to have that one taken away from him?” Aurelius the bishop said: “But there may be one bishop by whom many presbyters can be made, through the goodness of God, while a man fit to be made a bishop is hard to find. So if any bishop has a presbyter needed for the office of bishop, and has only one, my brother, as you have said, he ought to give up even that one to be promoted.” Posthumianus the bishop said: “If some other bishop has plenty of clergy, should that other diocese come to my help?” Aurelius the bishop said: “Of course. When you have come to the help of another church, the one who has many clerics should be persuaded to hand one over to you for ordination.” [n]