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ID
ER 766
Canon 4 of the Council of Angers (Gaul, AD 453) orders clerics to terminate all contacts with non-related women. They are also forbidden to take part in capturing or surrendering cities.
IV. De familiaritate extranearum feminarum nouerint esse.
 
Familiaritatem extranearum feminarum nouerint esse uitandam. Sed si qui sunt coelibes nonnisi a sororibus aut amitis suis aut a matribus consolentur; quia sicut bonum non est homini solum esse, ita familiares esse clericos feminis non oportet extraneis, quia frequenter plurimorum ruinas sub hac occasione deflemus. Si quis autem post hoc interdictum a praedictis familiaritatibus se reuocare noluerit, nequaquam gradu altiore donabitur, et si iam ordinatus fuerit, non ministret. Tum si qui tradendis uel capiendis ciuitatibus fuerint interfuisse detecti, non solum a communione habeantur alieni, sed nec conuiuiorum quidem admittantur esse participes.
 
(ed. Munier 1963: 137-138, 139)
Canon 4. What should [the clerics] know about familiarity with non-related women.
 
[We decree] that [clerics] should know that they ought to avoid familiarity with non-related women. Also those who live in celibacy should be consoled only by sisters or aunts or mothers. Because although it is good for a man not to be alone, it is not proper for clerics to be familiar with non-related women, as we weep frequently when such opportunities lead to the ruin of many. If someone would refuse to stop familiarising in such a way, by no means should he be granted a higher position, and if he has already been ordained, he should not minister. Besides, if some [clerics] would be exposed as taking part in surrendering or conquering cities, they should not only be separated from communion, but not even admitted to participate in shared meals.
 
(trans. J. Szafranowski)

Place of event:

Region
  • Gaul
City
  • Angers

About the source:

Title: Council of Angers, Concilium Andegavense
Origin: Angers (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian
The Council of Angers took place on the 4th of October 453. Seven bishops were present: Leo of Bourges, Eustochius of Tours, Victor of Le Mans, Chariation, Rumoridus and Viventius of unknown sees, and, finally, the newly elected bishop of Angers, Thalasius. As we learn from the letter often included in the manuscripts as part of the synodal collection (see [753]), the main purpose of this gathering was the institution of the canons against clerics applying to secular courts.
Edition:
Ch. Munier ed., Concilia Galliae a. 314-a. 506, Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina 148, Turnhoult 1963.

Categories:

Sexual life - Sexual abstinence
    Described by a title - Clericus
      Impediments or requisits for the office - Improper/Immoral behaviour
        Public functions and offices after ordination - Military activity
          Public law - Ecclesiastical
            Public law - Secular
              Relation with - Woman
                Administration of justice - Ecclesiastical
                  Administration of justice - Suspension
                    Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER766, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=766
                    Record by: Jerzy Szafranowski
                    last edited: 2017-11-06 14:48:34
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