The Presbyters Project

Canon 9

De clericorum honoratorum furtis aut falsitatibus. Si quis clericus furtum aut falsitatem admiserit, quia capitalia et ipsa sunt crimina, communione concessa ab ordine regradetur. De periurio uero id censuimus obseruandum, ut, si quis clericus in causis, quae sub iureiurando finiendae sunt, praebuerit iuramenta et post rebus euidentibus detegitur perierasse, biennii temporis excommunicatione plectatur.

(ed. de Clercq 1963: 117–118)

Canon 9

Concerning theft and fraud by the higher clergy (honorati clerici). If a cleric commits a theft or a fraud, because they are capital crimes he will be demoted from the office with permission to receive the communion. Concerning perjury, this we decree should be observed: if a cleric, in cases which were determined by the swearing of an oath, took an oath and it is revealed with tangible proof that he committed perjury, he should be punished with excommunication for a period of two years.

(trans. J. Szafranowski)

Discussion:

For the term honorati clerici, see also canon 9 of the same council [1311] and canon 8 of the council of Mâcon [1534].

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Orléans

About the source:

Title: The Third Council of Orléans, Concilium Aurelianense anno 538
Origin: Orléans (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

This council convened on 7 May 538 in Orléans gathered five metropolitans, fourteen other bishops, and seven presbyters representing their bishops. They all came from the kingdoms of Childebert I or Theuderic I. No bishop from the kingdom of Clothar I participated. Apart from the Council of Agde (AD 506), this is the only one from this period that gathered a metropolitan bishop from every region represented in the synod by a bishop or a presbyter. The council was presided by metropolitan bishop of Lyon, all of whose suffragans were present. Similarly, all bishops from the metropolitan province of Rouen attended the synod.

Edition:

C. de Clercq ed., Concilia Galliae a. 511-a. 695, Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina 148 A, Turnhout 1963.

Translation:

J. Gaudemet, B. Basdevant, Les canons des conciles mérovingiens VIe-VIIe siècles, Sources chrétiennes 353, Paris 1989.

Categories:

Described by a title - Clericus

Described by a title - Titles of respect

Impediments or requisits for the office - Improper/Immoral behaviour

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Excommunication/Anathema

Administration of justice - Demotion

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER1311, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=1311