Presbyters Uniwersytet Warszawski
ID
ER 803
Canon 3 of the Tenth Council of Toledo (Iberian Peninsula, AD 656) forbids bishops to appoint their relatives and favourites as heads of monasteries and churches.
Canon 3
 
De non permittendum laicis imperare religiosis.
 
Reuerentiae totius auditum, quia res adiit dura, non frustra cogimur hanc duriori exstripare censura. Agnouimus enim quosdam pontifices praecepti principis apostolorum, qui ait: "Pascite, qui in uobis est, gregem non coacte, sed spontanee, neque dominantes in clero, sed forma facti gregi" [cf. 1 Pet 5:2-3], ita esse immemores, ut quibusdam monasteriis parrocialibusque ecclesiis aut suae consanguinitatis personas aut sui fauoris participes iniquum saepe statuant in praelatum, ita illis prouidentes commoda inhonesta, ut eisdem deferantur aut quae proprio episcopo dare iustus ordo poposcerit aut quae rapere deputati exactoris uiolentia potuerit. Proinde decenter omnibus placet et in praesenti tale rescindere factum et non esse de cetero faciendum. Nam quisque pontificum deinceps aut sanguine propinquis aut fauore sibi personis quibuscumque deuinctis talia commodare lucra tentauerit ausu nefandae praesumptionis, et quod iussum fuerit deuocetur in irritum, et qui ordinauit annuae excommunicationis ferat excidium. Quae uero ablata fortasse fuerint, ab eo qui tulit reddantur in duplum.
 
(eds. Martínez Díez, Rodríguez 1992: 523-525)
Canon 3
 
That laymen shall not rule religious persons.
 
It is known to all that the case is serious, and thus, not without reason we are compelled to extirpate it by severe punishment. We know that some pontiffs are so oblivious of the precept of the prince of the Apostles who said: "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking care of it, not by constraint, but willingly, according to God; neither as lording it over the clergy, but being made a pattern of the flock from the heart" [cf. 1 Pet 5:2-3], that they appoint their relatives or people who enjoy their favour to preside unjustly over some monasteries, parishes, or churches, and they provide them with unfair incomes; they give them what the just order requires to give to the bishop or what they are able to seize by force as tax-gatherers. Therefore, it decently pleased us that what has already been done shall be annulled, and that it shall no longer be done in the future. Because if any bishop from now dare impiously provide such incomes to his relatives or favourites, his orders shall be invalidated, and he shall be punished with excommunication for one year. And a person who seized some revenues, shall give them back twofold.
 
(trans. M. Szada)

Place of event:

Region
  • Iberian Peninsula
City
  • Toledo

About the source:

Title: Tenth Council of Toledo, Concilium Toletanum decimum a. 656, Concilium X Toletanum, Concilium Toletanum X, Concilium X Toletanum, Concilium Toletanum X
Origin: Toledo (Iberian Peninsula)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian
The Tenth Council of Toledo assembled in December AD 656 during the reign of king Reccesvinth (653-672). It was presided by Eugenius II of Toledo. It was attended by nineteen other bishops, and five representatives of the absent bishops.
Edition:
G. Martínez Díez, F. Rodríguez eds., La colección canónica Hispana, Monumenta Hispaniae sacra. Serie canónica 5, Madrid 1992.
Bibliography:
R. Collins, Visigothic Spain, 409-711, Oxford 2004.
J. Orlandis, D. Ramos-Lissón, Die Synoden auf der Iberischen Halbinsel bis zum Einbruch des Islam (711), Paderborn 1981.

Categories:

Social origin or status - Clerical family
    Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior
      Livelihood/income
        Administration of justice - Financial punishment
          Economic status and activity - Taxes and services
            Reasons for ordination - Patronage
              Private law - Ecclesiastical
                Please quote this record referring to its author, database name, number, and, if possible, stable URL: M. Szada, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER803, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=803