Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 128
The Council of Carthage (North Africa, AD 345/348) forbids lay men to employ clerics as salesclerks or accountants.
Canon 9
 
Vt laici clericos actores uel ratiocinatores sibi non constiuvant.
 
Mettum Cannensis episcopus dixit: recte statutum est ut obnoxi negotiis alienis non ordinentur.
Tamen, si dimissi, et gratias referre debent et a clericorum iniuria temperare.
Et ipsis non liceat uel dominis clericos nostros eligere apothecarios uel ratiocinatores.
Gratus episcopus dixit: nulli dubium est quod omnes uel domini uel procuratores uel quicumque praesunt, cum audierint saluberrima instituta concilii et sibi esse consultum nec impeditum, propriam quod inhibebunt iniuriam in clericis nostris.
Quod si in iniuriam constitutionis imperatoriae clericos inquietandos putauerint, et defensio ecclesiastica non deerit et pudor publicus uindicabitur.
Vniuersi dixerunt: saluberrimae prouisiones debuerunt tanto condi concilio.
 
(ed. Munier 1974: 7-8)
Canon 9
 
Let laymen not appoint clerics as administrators or accountants.
 
Mettum, bishop Cannensis, said: it is rightly established that those who are charged with the affairs of others should not be ordained.
Nevertheless, if they are freed from this obligation, they should both show their gratitude and refrain from what clerics should not do.
And other people should not choose our clerics as salesclerks or accountants.
Bishop Gratus said: it is obvious to everyone that when lords, administrators and whoever is in charge hear the most salutary decisions of this council, and are instructed, and nothing obstructs them, they will stop doing injustice towards our clerics.
And if they think that they can bother clerics disregarding the imperial constitutions, he will be punished by the Church [defensio ecclesiastica non deerit] and the public decency will also be vindicated.
All said: such most salutary provisions should be preserved by the council.
 
(trans. S. Adamiak)

Discussion:

It is not clear to what imperial constitutions the canon refers. The law insisting that clerics must choose between trade and religion was issued in 399/400 (Codex Theodosianus XVI,1,16).

About the source:

Title: Council of Carthage 345/348, Concilium Carthaginense sub Grato a. 345/348, Concilium Carthaginis Africae primum
Origin: Carthage (Latin North Africa)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian
The synod of Catholic bishops gathered between 345 and 348, mainly in order to resist the Donatists.
Edition:
Ch. Munier ed., Concilia Africae a. 345-a. 525, Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina 149, Turnhoult 1974.

Categories:

Described by a title - Clericus
    Economic status and activity - Wage labour
      Impediments or requisits for the office - Profession/Career
        Public functions and offices after ordination - Administering secular property
          Livelihood/income
            Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: S. Adamiak, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER128, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=128