To Januarius, Archbishop of Cagliari, on Anathema for a Private Wrong

Gregory to Januarius, archbishop of Cagliari. If we consider with an honest heart the priestly office we administer, the harmony of personal love ought so to unite us with our sons that, as we are fathers in name, our affection should prove us to be fathers in deed as well. Since we ought to be such as has just been said, we wonder why so great a mass of complaints has arisen against your fraternity. We still hesitate, indeed, to believe it. But so that we may find out the truth, we have sent to your region John, the notary of our see, armed with our instructions, to compel all the parties to abide by the judgment of chosen arbitrators and to carry out their judgments himself. So by this letter we urge your fraternity to weigh the merits of the cases carefully in your own mind beforehand; and if you find that you have taken or are holding anything unjustly, then, out of regard for your priesthood, give it back before the trial. [b]

Now, among many complaints, the most distinguished Isidore has complained that your fraternity excommunicated and anathematized him for reasons that do not hold. When we wished to learn from one of your clergy who was here why this had been done, he gave us to understand that it was done for no other reason than that the man had wronged you. This distresses us exceedingly. For if it is so, you show that you are not thinking of heavenly things, but are giving signs that your way of life is among the things of earth, since you have brought the curse of anathema to bear to avenge a private wrong, a thing the sacred rules forbid. So from now on be thoroughly watchful and careful, and do not presume to inflict any such penalty again to avenge wrongs done to yourself. For if you do anything of the kind, know that it will afterward be avenged on you. [c]