THE ECUMENICAL COUNCILS

The Council of Sardica - A.D. 343/344

Edited from a variety of translations (mentioned in the preface) by H. R. Percival

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37 Pages

Page 26

Notes.

Ancient Epitome of Canon XIV.

One condemned out of anger, if he asks for assistance, should be heard. But until [he shall have asked for [398] ] the assistance let him remain excommunicated.

This is Canon XVII. of the Latin version.

Van Espen.

This canon is intended especially to aid presbyters, deacons, and other clerics, who have been excommunicated precipitately and without just cause, or suspended by their own bishop in his anger and fury....The canon, moreover, admonishes that the bishop with regard to whose sentence the dispute has arisen shall patiently consent to the discussion of the matter de novo, whether his decision be sustained by the majority or emended.

And let bishops and other prelates who have spiritual jurisdiction over the clergy note this, who cannot bear with equanimity that a word should be said against their decisions, but exact a kind of blind obedience, even frequently with great conscientious suffering to their very best ecclesiastics; and in such cases as do not promptly and blindly obey them, the clergy are traduced as rebels and even a patient hearing is refused to them.

This canon is found in the Corpus Juris Canonici, Gratian's Decretum, P. II., Causa XI., Q. iij., c. iv.

[398] This is the understanding of Beveridge's Latin. I should have supposed the words to be supplied were "the reception of."

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