Canon 16

 

A bishop, presbyter, or a deacon should shine in such a way with the sacred light of conscience, that he will escape through the honesty of his deeds from the calumnies of slanderers. They should strive to fulfil in themselves the divine testimony, as the Lord has said: Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Mt 5:16). Therefore, with the canonical authority and the decree that will last for eternity, we rule that [bishops, presbyters, or deacons] should avoid reproachable freedom of living with non-related women, and that they should live only with grandmothers, mothers, sisters, or cousins, if there is a necessity. Of those women, as the series of previous canons hold, nothing else should be suspected, than what the nature has constituted. Also, by no means should a nun, or a non-related woman, or a serving girl be admitted to their room or a private chamber (cubiculum adque cellarium) to provide whatever domestic service. If someone oblivious to the Lord's precepts were to believe that he can disregard [this decree], let him know that he will be deprived of communion with the canonical authority. If a priest (antistes) is unwilling to detain his presbyter or a deacon with a canonical rigidity, he will be judged with the same severity.

 

(trans. J. Szafranowski)