Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 714

Gregory to Romanus, defensor of Sicily. It has come to us that, if anyone have a case against any clerics whatsoever, you, despising their bishops, cause those same clerics to be produced in your own court. If this is so, since it is very evident to be improper, by this authority we command you that you presume not to do this again. But if anyone have a case against any cleric, let him approach that cleric's bishop, so that either he himself may take cognizance, or at least judges be appointed by him; or if perchance recourse must be had to arbiters, let the executor appointed by him compel the parties to choose a judge.

But if any cleric or layman have a case against a bishop, then you ought to interpose yourself, so that either you yourself take cognizance between them, or at least, at your admonition, they choose judges for themselves. For if his own jurisdiction is not preserved to each bishop, what else is being done but that through us, through whom the ecclesiastical order ought to have been kept, it is thrown into confusion? Likewise it has been reported to us that certain clerics, who by our most reverend brother John the bishop, guilt requiring it, were put into penance, you, he not knowing it, cast out from thence by your authority; which, if it is true, know that you have done a thing altogether dishonourable and to be rebuked not lightly. Therefore restore those same clerics to their bishop without delay.

And for the rest, beware of committing this, for if you neglect it, know that you will incur our displeasure in no moderate degree. (Cf. John the Deacon, book IV, chapter 30.)