教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 300 章

Gregory to Theodore, bishop of Lilybaeum. Your Fraternity's solicitude is altogether pleasing to us, in that you both take care to examine the things you learn concerning the life of priests, and report them once investigated. That therefore you may be able to persist without diminution in this solicitude which we praise in you, be studious and vigilant; and if you come to know that any excesses are there perpetrated by any persons whatsoever—which God forbid—if indeed they are such as can be amended on the spot, let them be reasonably amended; otherwise hasten to report by writing to our brother Bishop Maximian, that he may, being informed, learn what ought to be done by you. Let therefore no consideration recall you from investigating and disclosing depraved deeds.

For the more we now praise your vigilance, the more culpable you will be found, if you conceal deeds of this kind by any dissimulation. Moreover, we will that Paul, formerly a bishop, remain in penance in the monastery in which he is. But the property which was found in his possession, you shall by all means take care to keep in the treasury of your church. Of which also, according to the register of the things found, we will that you make a receipt, and transmit it to the archive of your church.

But also with regard to his clergy, if however any of them are present there, it befits you to make another receipt of like sort, in which your Fraternity shall attest that it has issued a receipt concerning the same property in our archive, so that, whenever it shall be necessary, all the property may be restored without loss to the appropriate person. But concerning Boniface, a certain grave accusation has reached us, whose crimes we wish that your Fraternity examine, together with the keeper of the praetor's place, whether they be true.