教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 644 章

Gregory to Fantinus the defensor. Sabinianus, a most distinguished man, the bearer of these presents, has informed us that a certain custom formerly prevailed there, namely that, when various persons arrived from elsewhere, the citizens of that same city bore the expenses from their own means. When they complained of being burdened by this matter, they made an agreement with Theodore, formerly bishop of Lilybaeum, that certain fixed portions of their substance should be assigned to his Church by deed of gift, and that he should take this burden upon himself; and that, once they were relieved of it, he himself would supply from the Church whatever was needful. But he (Sabinianus) states that during the thirteenth and first indictions, throughout which he held the office of defensor for the aforesaid city, the bishop being absent, he expended from his own means what could have been supplied from the Church.

And because he asks that what he has expended be repaid to him, we therefore charge your experience to press upon our most reverend brother and fellow-bishop Decius, so that either, if the matter be so, he may settle it with him by a peaceable arrangement; or else, if he believes he can by any argument defend himself against repaying the expenses, that he present himself before your tribunal. And when the truth has been more diligently investigated, so decide, without delay, whatever the order of equity shall counsel you, that both the case may reach a reasonable conclusion, and that the parties be not wearied before you by any postponement in the hearing.

But if he judges that the donations of which we have spoken are burdensome to his Church, and should perhaps wish to restore them to the donors, if any of those who receive them are clerics, let them likewise be admonished by you either to pay according to their portions which they were accustomed to give, or else, if they wish to dispute the matter, the contentions of the parties must necessarily be resolved by your cognizance, so that no party may complain of suffering prejudice unheard. But the other cases which the aforesaid bearer asserts he has pending with the aforementioned most reverend man, our brother, we likewise wish to be settled by your judgment, with the holy Gospels set in the midst.