To Pantaleo, Prefect of Africa, on the Donatists

Gregory to Pantaleo, prefect of Africa. Your excellency is well aware how urgently the law pursues the utterly abominable depravity of heretics. So it is no light sin if these people, whom both the soundness of our faith and the strictness of the laws condemn, should find freedom to creep back again in your time. Now in those parts, as far as we have learned, the audacity of the Donatists has grown so much that, with a poisonous assumption of authority, they not only drive priests of the catholic faith out of their churches, but are not even afraid to rebaptize those whom the water of new birth had cleansed upon a true confession. And we are much surprised, if it really is so, that wicked men should be allowed to run to such excess while you are stationed in those parts. Consider, first of all, what kind of judgment you will leave people to pass on you, if these men, who in the times of others were rightly put down, find a way for their excesses under your administration. Next, know that our God will require at your hand the souls of the lost, if you neglect to correct so great an abomination as far as you are able. Let your excellency not take it badly that I speak to you like this. It is because we love you as our own children that we point out to you what we have no doubt will be to your advantage. But send to us with all speed our brother and fellow bishop Paul, so that no one is given the chance, under any excuse, to hinder his coming. Then, when we have learned the truth more fully, we may be able with God’s help to settle by a reasonable handling of the case how the punishment of so great a crime ought to be carried out. [a]