The Presbyters Project

VIII. Ut qui clericum accusaverit et id non probaverit excommunicetur.

Placuit ut si quis aliquem clericorum in accusatione fornicationis impetit, secundum praeceptum Pauli apostoli duo vel tria testimonia requirantur ab illo. Quod si non potuerit datis testimoniis adprobare quae dixit, excommunicationem accusati accusator excipiat.

(ed. Barlowe 1950: 121)

Canon 8

That who accuses a cleric without proof shall be excommunicated.

It pleased us that if someone accused a cleric of fornication, he would need two or three witnesses to prove it, according the precept of Paul [1 Timothy 5:19]. If he cannot provide testimonies proving his accusation, he should be excommunicated.

(trans. by M. Szada)

Place of event:

Region

Iberian Peninsula

City

Braga

About the source:

Title: Second Council of Braga 572, Concilium Bracarense a. 572, II Concilium Bracarense, Concilium Bracarense secundum
Origin: Braga (Iberian Peninsula)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The Second Council of Braga was held in AD 572, eight years after the first. Presiding over the council was the metropolitan bishop of Braga, Martin, but also another metropolitan bishop was present - Nitigisius of Lugo. The province of Galicia had been divided in two regions (six dioceses in the each new province) some time before the second council. The Second Council was held under the auspices of the Suevic king, Miro (Barlowe 1950: 82-83).

It has been suggested that Martin of Braga wrote the minutes of both councils. There are no conclusive arguments, but some linguistic evidence in favour of Martin`s authorship was presented by the editor, C. Barlowe (1950: 83).

Edition:

Edition:

Concilium Bracarense secundum, in C. Barlowe ed., Martini episcopi Bracarensis opera omnia, New Haven 1950

Bibliography:

C. Barlowe ed., Martini episcopi Bracarensis opera omnia, New Haven 1950

Categories:

Sexual life - Extramarital

Described by a title - Clericus

Public law - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical

Administration of justice - Excommunication/Anathema

Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER333, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=333