Question VI

GRATIAN. What ought to be done concerning those who were unknowingly ordained by simoniacs—which was asked in the sixth place—is to be sought above, namely in Urban's chapter which begins: “If any were ordained by simoniacs but not simoniacally.” But now the question concerns those who offer money not for ordination but for election, and who lavish rewards upon some persons so that either a decree of election may be made, or it may be confirmed by subscription, or the election may not be opposed: whether their election is to be judged vicious. For those who lavish gifts not for consecration but for election do not seem to buy the gift of the Holy Spirit, since election makes no one a participant in any spiritual grace. But just as buyers of ecclesiastical things are judged simoniacs because those things are so joined to ecclesiastical offices that the one does not come to anyone without the other, so, because one comes to consecration through election, he who lavishes rewards for election is held to be a simoniac just as if he had given gifts for consecration. Hence Symmachus writes to Bishop Caesarius, [epistle I, c. 5]:

But if anyone desires the episcopate, after money has been given let him by no means employ powerful persons as supporters for himself; nor, by applying fear of any kind, let him compel clerics or citizens to subscribe in order to make a decree for him, or urge them by any rewards.

Likewise Gregory to those dwelling at Salona, [book V, epistle 26]. But, providing for your charity and fearing the judgment of almighty God upon my soul, I desire that the cases of that same Maximus be examined carefully: whether he is oppressed by no crimes which are contrary to sacred order; whether he does not endeavor to reach the priestly office through the simoniacal heresy, that is, by furnishing rewards to certain persons who elect him. For then he will be a free intercessor before the Lord for you, if he comes to the place of intercession not bound by his own offenses.

Likewise Gregory to Syagrius, Bishop of Autun, [and other bishops, book VII, epistle 110]. Just as one who refuses when invited and flees when sought is to be moved toward the sacred altars, so one who aspires of his own accord or thrusts himself forward importunately is without doubt to be repelled. For one who thus strives to ascend to higher things—what else does he do but diminish by growing and, by ascending outwardly, descend inwardly into the depths? And so, dearest brother, let sincerity flourish in the ordaining of priests; let the consent be simple and without venality; let a pure election be put forward, so that one promoted to the summit of the priesthood may be believed to be there not by the support of persons bought but by God's judgment. GRATIAN. But if money has been promised or paid while the elected or ordained person was wholly ignorant, and he did not come to election or ordination by that means, it appears to harm him in no respect: it pertains neither to guilt for a crime of which he had no consciousness nor to the annulment of an election or ordination which he is shown otherwise to have attained not through their depraved covetousness.