The Presbyters Project

[Capitulum secundum cod. R] III. De familiaritatem extranearum mulierum.

[Capitulum secundum codd. A, Q, et S] III. De societate extranearum mulierum.

Et quia nullum diabolo locum dari oportet, hoc praecipue custodiendum decreuimus, ut nullam clerici cum extraneis feminis habeant familiaritatem, ne ullum male loquendi uel sentiendi hominibus aditum tribuant: quia frequenter per hanc indecentem occasionem contingit ut diabolus qui insidiatur sicut leo in cubili suo de ruina seruorum Dei insultet. Si quis uero clericus post interdictum episcopi sui illicitis familiaritatibus extranearum feminarum uoluerit inhaerere a communione habeatur alienus.

(ed. Munier 1963: 145, 149)

[Title according to cod. R] III. On familiarity with non-related women.

[Title according to codd. A, Q, and S] III. On socialising with non-related women.

Because it is proper never to give place to the devil [Eph. 4:27], we decreed that this should be especially observed, that no cleric should become familiar with non-related women, lest this give opportunity for men to speak or discern wrongly: for often by means of such indecent behaviour it happens, that the devil who lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den [Ps. 10:9] brings ruin to the servants of God. If, indeed, a cleric wants to hold to his illicit familiarities with non-related women after it was forbidden to him by his bishop, he will be banned from communion.

(trans. J. Szafranowski)

Place of event:

Region

Gaul

City

Tours

About the source:

Title: First Council of Tours, Concilium Turonense I anno 461
Origin: Tours (Gaul)
Denomination: Catholic/Nicene/Chalcedonian

The council of Tours of AD 461 took place on the 18th of November of 461, when some bishops had gathered in Tours to celebrate the feast of St. Martin the week earlier. The canons were signed by eight bishops, including one described as "of the Britons", and one presbyter acting in his bishop` stead. Characteristic of the acts of this synod is the frequent quoting of the Holy Scriptures.

Edition:

Ch. Munier ed., Concilia Galliae a. 314-a. 506, Corpus Christianorum. Series Latina 148, Turnhoult 1963.

Categories:

Described by a title - Clericus

Impediments or requisits for the office - Improper/Immoral behaviour

Relation with - Bishop/Monastic superior

Relation with - Woman

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: J. Szafranowski, Presbyters in the Late Antique West, ER820, http://www.presbytersproject.ihuw.pl/index.php?id=6&SourceID=820