distinction — Decretum of Gratian
Distinction LXII
GRATIAN. Part I. It has been shown briefly from what orders persons are to be chosen for what grades. Now it is to be seen by whom they are to be chosen and consecrated. Election belongs to the clerics, consent to the people. Hence Pope Leo [to Rusticus, Bishop of Narbonne, epistle XC to XCII, c. 1]:
GRATIANUS. I. Pars. Breuiter monstratum est, ex quibus ordinibus in quos gradus sunt eligendi. Nunc uidendum est, a quibus sunt eligendi et consecrandi. Electio clericorum est, consensus plebis. Unde Leo Papa: [Rustico Narbonensi Episcopo, epist. XC. ad XCII. c. 1.]
Friedberg, col. 233/234
C. I. Those who are neither elected by clerics nor sought by the people are not to be held among the bishops.
No reason permits those to be held among the bishops who were neither elected by clerics, nor sought by the people, nor consecrated by the comprovincial bishops with the metropolitan’s judgment. Hence, since a question concerning an honor badly received often arises, who doubts that what is not shown to have been conferred cannot be bestowed by these men? But if any clerics were ordained by these pseudo-bishops in their churches, etc.; below, in the cause of the simoniacs [C. 1 q. 1 c. 40].
C. II. The people ought not to go before, but to follow.
Likewise Celestine [Pope to the Bishops of Apulia and Calabria, epistle III, c. 3]. The people are to be taught, not followed; and we also, if they do not know, ought to admonish them what is permitted and what is not permitted, not to furnish assent to them. Whoever has attempted to try prohibited things will feel that the censure of the Apostolic See will by no means be lacking. For the things we do not correct by the authority of admonition alone, it is necessary that we punish through severity consonant with the rules. Therefore, we wish this to become known throughout all churches that lack their own rulers, so that no one perhaps deceive himself with flatteries of some hope. GRATIAN. But unless he has been canonically elected, he ought not to be consecrated. Hence Pope Callistus [II]:
C. I. Non sunt habendi inter episcopos, qui nec a clericis eliguntur, nec a plebibus expetuntur.
Nulla ratio sinit, ut inter episcopos habeantur, qui nec a clericis sunt electi, nec a plebibus expetiti, nec a conprouincialibus episcopis cum metropolitani iudicio consecrati. Unde cum sepe questio de male accepto honore nascitur, quis ambigat nequaquam ab istis esse tribuendum quod nec docetur fuisse collatum? Si qui autem clerici ab istis pseudoepiscopis in eorum ecclesiis ordinati sunt, etc. infra causa simoniacorum. [C. 1. q. 1. c. 40.] C. II. Populus non debet preire, sed subsequi. Item Celestinus. [Papa ad Episcopos Apuliae et Calabriae, epist. III. c. 3.] Docendus est populus, non sequendus, nos quoque, si nesciunt, eos quid liceat quidue non liceat commonere, non his consensum prebere debemus. Quisquis conatus fuerit temptare prohibita, sentiet censuram sedis apostolicae minime defuturam. Que enim sola ammonitionis auctoritate non corrigimus, necesse est, per seueritatem congruentem regulis uindicemus. Per totas ergo hoc, que propriis rectoribus carent, ecclesias uolumus innotescat, ut nullus sibi aliqua spe forsitan blandiciis illudat. Gratian. Nisi autem canonice electus fuerit, consecrari non debet. Unde Calixtus Papa: [II.]
Friedberg, col. 233/234
C. III. No one is to be consecrated as bishop unless canonically elected.
Let no one consecrate as bishop anyone who has not been canonically elected. But if this has been presumed, both the one consecrating and the one consecrated are to be deposed without hope of restoration.
C. III. Non consecretur in episcopum nisi canonice electus.
Nullus in episcopum nisi canonice electum consecret. Quod si presumtum fuerit, et consecrans, et consecratus absque recuperationis spe deponatur.
Friedberg, col. 233/234