Question — Decretum of Gratian
Question VI
GRATIAN. The sixth question is concluded by the same chapter, in which it follows:
GRATIANUS. Sexta uera questio eodem capitulo terminatur, in quo sequitur:
Friedberg, col. 543/544
C. I. One who is found culpable in an accusation of a bishop is admitted to make an accusation only in his own civil business.
It was also decided that, when he has begun to proceed in the judgment of bishops, if the person of the accuser has been found condemnable, he shall thereafter not be admitted to make an accusation unless he wishes to assert his own cases, but not ecclesiastical or criminal ones.
C. I. In ciuili et proprio dumtaxat negotio ad arguendum admittitur, qui in episcopi accusatione culpabilis inuenitur.
Illud uero placuit, ut cum agere ceperit in episcoporum iudicio, si fuerit accusatoris persona dampnabilis de cetero ad arguendum non admittatur, nisi proprias causas, non tamen ecclesiasticas uel criminales, asserere uoluerit.
Friedberg, col. 543/544
C. II. One who is not permitted to accuse is able to conduct his own case.
Likewise from the Seventh Council of Carthage, [c. 2, near the end]. The license to accuse in their own cases is not to be denied to all those to whom an accusation is denied.
C. II. Propriam causam agere ualet cui accusare non licet.
Item ex Concilio Cartaginensi VII. [c. 2. prope finem] Omnibus, quibus accusatio denegatur, in causis propriis accusandi licentia non est neganda.
Friedberg, col. 543/544
C. III. One who fails in the accusation of bishops will be able to proceed only civilly.
Likewise Bishop Felix to all Bishops, [established throughout the provinces of Gaul, letter II]. If the persons of accusers have appeared culpable in the judgment of bishops, they shall not be admitted to make an accusation unless they wish to assert their own cases, but not criminal or ecclesiastical ones.
C. III. In accusatione episcoporum deficiens ciuiliter tantum experiri poterit.
Item Felix Episcopus omnibus Episcopis. [per Galliae prouincias constitutis, epistola II.] Si accusatorum personae in episcoporum iudicio culpabiles aparuerint, ad arguendum non admittantur, nisi proprias causas asserere, non tamen criminales uel ecclesiasticas, uoluerint.
Friedberg, col. 543/544
[C. IV.]
Likewise Pope Hadrian, [in the capitularies, c. 5]. But if the persons of the accusers in the judgment of the bishops, etc., as above in the same words.
[C. IV.]
Item Adrianus Papa. [in capitulis, c. 5.] Quod si accusatorum personae in iudicio episcoporum etc. ut supra eisdem uerbis.
Friedberg, col. 543/544