Question — Decretum of Gratian
Question III
GRATIAN. But that clerics cannot be agents for secular business is proved by the authority of the First Council of Carthage, in which Nicasius, Bishop of Culusium, is read to have said in chapter 6:
GRATIANUS. Quod autem clerici secularium negociorum procuratores esse non ualeant, auctoritate Cartaginensis Concilii I. probatur, in quo Nicasius Episcopus Culusitanus dixisse legitur capitulo 6.:
Friedberg, col. 855/856
[PALEA. C. I.
It came to the holy synod’s attention that, among those who are numbered in the clergy, certain persons, for the sake of filthy gain, undertake leases of others’ possessions and secular causes; through idleness they separate themselves from sacred ministries, but they run to the houses of secular persons and undertake the management of their property for the sake of avarice. Therefore the holy and great synod decreed that henceforth none of them—that is, neither bishop, cleric, nor monk—is to lease possessions or involve himself in secular administrations, unless perhaps they are drawn by the laws to unavoidable guardianships or administrations of minors, or the bishop of that city has committed to someone the management of ecclesiastical affairs, or of orphans, or of widows who are without defense, or of those persons who especially need ecclesiastical assistance for the fear of God. But if anyone shall have transgressed these statutes, let him be subject to ecclesiastical correction. ]
[PALEA. C. I.
Peruenit in sanctam sinodum, quia de eis, qui in clero connumerantur, quidam propter turpis lucri gratiam alienarum possessionum conductiones et seculares causas suscipiunt, et se ipsos quidem a ministeriis sanctis per desidiam separant, ad domos autem secularium concurrunt, et substantiarum eorum gubernationes auariciae causa suscipiunt. Decreuit igitur sancta et magna sinodus, neminem deinceps eorum, hoc est non episcopum, siue clericum, aut monachum, conducere possessiones, aut misceri secularibus procurationibus, nisi forte qui legibus ad minorum etatem tutelas siue procurationes inexcusabiles attrahantur, aut cui ipsius ciuitatis episcopus ecclesiasticarum rerum conmiserit gubernacula, uel orphanorum, aut uiduarum, que indefensae sunt, aut earum personarum, que maxime ecclesiastico indigent amminiculo propter timorem Dei. Si quis uero transgressus fuerit hec statuta, correctioni ecclesiasticae subiaceat. ]
Friedberg, col. 855/856
C. II. Let those who are attached to the clergy not become administrators of secular possessions.
I believe that my proposal pleases your holiness and that it displeases you that those who serve God and are attached to the clergy should enter upon legal agencies, administrations, or managements of households. Bishop Gratus said: “The statutes of the Apostles say: ‘No one serving as a soldier for God entangles himself in secular affairs.’ Therefore let them either be clerics without the agencies of households, or agents without the office of clerics.” All said: “Let us observe this.”
C. II. Qui annexi sunt clero secularium possessionum procuratores non fiant.
Credo placere suggestionem meam sanctitati uestrae, et displicere uobis, ut qui seruiunt Deo, et annexi sunt clero, accedant ad actiones, seu amministrationes uel ad procurationes domorum. Gratus episcopus dixit: Apostolorum statuta sunt, que dicunt: "Nemo militans Deo inplicat se negociis secularibus." Proinde aut clerici sint sine actionibus domorum, aut actores sine offitio clericorum. Uniuersi dixerunt: "Hoc obseruemus."
Friedberg, col. 855/856
C. III. On the same.
Likewise from the Fourth Council of Carthage, [c. 15]. It pleased us that bishops, priests, and deacons, or any clerics whatsoever, are not to be lessees or administrators, nor are they to seek a livelihood by any base or dishonorable business, because they ought to have regard to what is written: “No one serving as a soldier for God entangles himself in secular affairs.”
C. III. De eodem.
Item ex Concilio Cartaginensi IIII. [c. 15.] Placuit, ut episcopi, presbiteri, et diaconi, uel quicumque clerici non sint conductores, aut procuratores, neque ullo turpi uel inhonesto negocio uictum querant, quia respicere debent scriptum esse: "Nemo militans Deo inplicat se secularibus negociis."
Friedberg, col. 855/856
C. IV. Let clerics not undertake the administration of secular affairs.
Likewise from the letter of Cyprian to the priests and deacons and the people of Furni, [book I, letter 9]. Cyprian to the priests and deacons and the people abiding at Furni, greetings. Long ago it was established by a council of bishops that no one is to name any of the clerics and ministers of God as guardian or curator in his testament, since each one honored with the divine priesthood and established in the ministry of the clergy ought to serve only the altar and sacrifices and to be free for prayers and supplications. For it is written: “No one serving as a soldier for God entangles himself in secular affairs, so that he may be able to please him to whom he has approved himself.” § 1. Our bishops and predecessors, considering this religiously and providing beneficially, decreed that no one departing this life should name a cleric to a guardianship or curatorship; and that if anyone had done this, no offering should be made for him, nor should a sacrifice be celebrated for his falling asleep. For those who wish to call priests and ministers away from the altar do not deserve to be named before the altar of God in the prayer of the priests.
C. IV. Secularium negociorum procurationem clerici non suscipiant.
Item ex epistola Cipriani ad Presbiteros, et Diacones, et plebem Furnensem. [lib. I. epist. 9.] Ciprianus presbiteris, et diaconibus, plebi Furnensi consistentibus salutem. Iampridem concilio episcoporum statutum est, ne quis de clericis et Dei ministris tutorem et curatorem testamento suo nominauerit, quando singuli diuino sacerdotio honorati et in clericorum ministerio constituti non nisi altari et sacrificiis deseruire, et precibus atque orationibus uacare debeant. Scriptum est enim: "Nemo militans Deo inplicat se negociis secularibus, ut possit placere ei, cui se probauit." §. 1. Quod episcopi et antecessores nostri religiose considerantes et salubriter prouidentes censuerunt, ne quis excedens ad tutelam uel curam clericum nominaret; ac si quis hoc fecisset, non offerretur pro eo, nec sacrificium pro dormitione eius celebraretur. Neque enim ante altare Dei merentur nominari in sacerdotum prece qui ab altari sacerdotes et ministros uolunt auocare.
Friedberg, col. 855/856
C. V. It is not lawful for clerics to be bound to troubles and secular affairs.
Likewise from the same. Those who are occupied with divine and spiritual affairs ought not to be bound by troubles, secular affairs, and snares, nor to be free for earthly and secular acts.
C. V. Non licet clericis molliciis et secularibus rebus obligari.
Item ex eadem. Molliciis et secularibus rebus laqueisque obligari non debent qui diuinis rebus et spiritualibus occupati sunt nec ad terrenos et seculares actus uacare.
Friedberg, col. 857/858
C. VI. Let clerics not be bound to secular affairs.
Likewise from the same. Those who are promoted in the church of the Lord to ordination among the clergy are in no respect to be called away from divine administration, nor bound to secular troubles and affairs, nor to withdraw from altars and sacrifices, but are to serve heavenly and spiritual affairs by day and night.
C. VI. Secularibus negociis clerici non alligentur.
Item ex eadem. Hii, qui in ecclesia Domini ad ordinationem clericorum promouentur, in nullo ab administratione diuina auocentur, nec molestiis et negociis secularibus alligentur, nec ab altariis et sacrificiis recedant, sed die ac nocte celestibus rebus et spiritualibus seruiant.
Friedberg, col. 857/858
C. VII. On the same.
Likewise, as above, Cyprian. Let the decree of the priests, religiously and necessarily made, be observed by us, and at the same time let an example be given to the other brothers, lest anyone call away priests and ministers of God, who are free for his altar and church, to secular troubles. It will be possible for this to be observed hereafter, so that no one does this further concerning the person of clerics, if what has been done is punished.
C. VII. De eodem.
Item, ut supra, Ciprianus. Sacerdotum decretum religiose et necessarie factum seruetur a nobis, simul et ceteris fratribus detur exemplum, ne quis sacerdotes et ministros Dei altari eius et ecclesiae uacantes ad seculares molestias deuocet. Obseruari de cetero poterit, ne quis ultra hoc faciat circa personam clericorum, si quod factum est fuerit uindicatum.
Friedberg, col. 857/858