Carthage, Canons 56–64

Canon 56. That bishops who were ordained for dioceses are not to choose dioceses for themselves. [a]

Honoratus and Urbanus the bishops said: “We have heard it decreed that dioceses should not be thought fit to receive bishops except with the consent of their founder. But in our province, some who were ordained bishops in a diocese, with the consent of the bishop by whose power they were set up, have even seized dioceses for themselves. This should be corrected by the judgment of your love, and forbidden for the future.” Epigonius the bishop said: “Every bishop should keep what is his by right, so that no part is snatched away from the whole body of dioceses to have its own bishop without consent from the proper authority. For if consent is given, it will be enough that the diocese set apart in this way has its own bishop only, and let him not seize other dioceses. For only the one cut off from the many has earned the honor of receiving a bishop.” Aurelius the bishop said: “I do not doubt that it pleases all of you, in your love, that one who was ordained for a diocese with the consent of the bishop who held the mother see should keep only the people for whom he was ordained. Since, then, I think everything has been dealt with, if all of it agrees with your mind, please confirm it all by your vote.” All the bishops said: “We are all well pleased, and we have confirmed it with our signatures.” And they signed their names. [b]

“I, Aurelius, bishop of the church of Carthage, have consented to this decree and have signed what has been read.” All the other bishops signed in the same way.

Canon 57. That those baptized as children by the Donatists may be ordained clergymen in the catholic church. [c]

In the former council a decree was made, as all of you remember as well as I do, about those who were baptized as children by the Donatists, when they could not yet know how ruinous their error was. Afterward, when they came to the use of reason, they received knowledge of the truth, abhorred their former error, and were received, in keeping with the ancient order, by the laying on of the hand into the catholic church of God spread throughout the world. It was decreed that for such people the memory of their error ought to be no barrier to receiving the clerical office. For when they came to faith they thought the true church was their own, and there they believed in Christ and received the sacraments of the Trinity. That all these sacraments are altogether true, holy and divine is most certain, and the whole hope of the soul is placed in them, even though the presumptuous daring of heretics, taking to itself the name of the truth, dares to administer them. After all, they are only one, as the blessed apostle tells us, saying, “One God, one faith, one baptism,” and it is not lawful to repeat what ought to be administered only once. So those who have been baptized in this way may, after anathematizing their error, be received by the laying on of the hand into the one church, the pillar, as it is called, and the one mother of all Christians. There all these sacraments are received for salvation and everlasting life; yet these same sacraments bring the heavy penalty of damnation on those who persist in heresy. So what gives light to those who are in the truth, for obtaining eternal life, leads only to darkness and damnation for those who are in error. As for those, then, who have fled from error and acknowledge the breasts of their mother the catholic church, who believe and receive all these holy mysteries with love of the truth, and who besides the sacraments have the witness of a good life, no one would refuse to grant that such people may without doubt be raised to the clerical office, especially in such a time of need as the present. But there are others of this sect who are already clergymen and wish to come over to us with their peoples, and with their honors as well. These are men who turn to life for the sake of office, and who seek salvation, that is, enter the church, so that they may keep their offices. I think the question about such men may be left to the weightier consideration of our brothers mentioned above. When they have considered the matter referred to them with their wiser counsel, may they be pleased to advise us what they approve on this question. Only concerning those who were baptized by heretics as children do we decree that, if it seems good, they should consent to our decision about ordaining them. So, all the things we have set out above together with the holy bishops, let your honorable brotherhood join me in judging that they should be done. [d]

Canon 58. On the idols and temples still remaining, which should be done away with by the emperors.

So the most religious emperors should be asked to order the remaining idols to be taken away entirely throughout all Africa, for in many places along the coast, and on various estates, the wickedness of this error still flourishes. Let them command the idols to be taken away, and order their temples to be completely destroyed, those that are no ornament, standing in fields or in out-of-the-way places. [f]

Canon 59. That clerics are not to be compelled to testify in public about cases they themselves have heard and judged.

It should also be asked that the emperors be pleased to decree the following. Suppose some people have chosen to have their case heard in a church, according to the apostolic law laid on the churches, and the decision of the clergy does not satisfy one of the parties. Then it must not be lawful to summon into court as a witness the clergyman who heard the case or was present at the hearing; and no person attached to any churchman is to be compelled to give testimony. [g]

Canon 60. On pagan feasts.

This must also be asked. Against the commands of God, feasts are held in many places that were brought in by the pagan error, so that Christians are now forced by pagans to celebrate them. As a result, in the times of the Christian emperors a new persecution seems to have arisen in secret. Let the emperors order such things to be forbidden, and ban them from the cities and estates under threat of punishment. This should be done especially because in some cities they are not afraid to commit such wickedness even on the birthdays of the most blessed martyrs, and in the very holy places themselves. For on these days, shameful to say, they perform the most wicked dances through the fields and open places, so that the honor of married women and the modesty of countless women who have come out of devotion for the most holy day are assaulted with lewd outrages. The result is that people almost shrink from approaching holy religion itself. [h]

Canon 61. On public shows: that they are not to be held on the Lord’s days or on the festivals of the saints.

Furthermore, it must be asked that theatrical shows and the staging of other entertainments be removed from the Lord’s day and from the other most sacred days of the Christian religion. This is especially because on the octave of holy Easter, that is, the Sunday after Easter, the people gather at the circus rather than at church. When such shows happen to fall on a day of devotion they should be moved to some other day, and no Christian should be compelled to watch them. This is especially because, in doing things contrary to the commands of God, no one should suffer persecution from anyone; rather, as is right, a person should exercise the free will that God has given him. The danger to those who take part should also be especially considered, since against the commands of God they are forced by great fear to attend the shows. [i]

Canon 62. On condemned clerics.

This too should be asked: that the emperors be pleased to decree that if any clergyman, of whatever rank, has been condemned by the judgment of the bishops for any crime, he may not be defended either by the churches over which he presided or by anyone else whatever, under penalty of losing both money and office. And let them order that neither age nor sex be accepted as an excuse.

Canon 63. On stage performers who have become Christians.

This too must be asked about them: that if anyone from any of the performing trades wishes to come to the grace of Christianity and to remain free of that stain, no one may lawfully induce or compel him to go back to performing the same things again. [k]

Canon 64. On freeing slaves in church: that permission be asked from the emperor. [l]

As for proclaiming the freeing of slaves in church: if our fellow bishops throughout Italy are found to do this, it will be a mark of our confidence to follow their order of proceeding, with full power given to the legate we are sending. Whatever he can achieve that is worthy of the faith, for the state of the church and the salvation of souls, we will accept with praise in the sight of the Lord. If all these things please your holiness, please set them out, so that I may be sure that my proposal has been ratified by you, and so that they in their sincerity may freely accept what we have done with one mind. And all the bishops said: “What your holiness has directed to be done, and has wisely set out, pleases us all.”