教牧守則·對話錄與書信 第 744 章

Gregory to Anthemius, subdeacon of Campania. Since crimes that are brought against the innocent, and especially against those of sacred orders, are to be more severely punished, consider how guilty are all you who sat in the case of John the Deacon, in that no penalty proceeding from your determination chastised Hilarus, his very accuser. Nor believe that to be a fit excuse for you, that, as it is said, our brother and fellow-bishop Paschasius alone deferred the matter while you were as it were willing to judge. For if the zeal of uprightness had flourished in you, it were easier for one to be reasonably persuaded by many, than for many to be delayed by one without cause.

Since therefore the evil of so great a wickedness ought not to pass without worthy vengeance, we wish our above-mentioned brother Paschasius to be admonished, that he first deprive the same Hilarus of the subdiaconal office which he unworthily exercises, and, having had him publicly chastised with stripes, cause him to be carried into exile, that the punishment of one may be the correction of many. But if perchance the tarnished report does not move the leniency of his deacon, and in this—which we do not believe—he shall have shown himself sluggish, let your Experience do these things which we have said, and report to us concerning that man's negligence.

The same brother is moreover to be exhorted by our command, that he show himself vigilant in all things, and neglect not to display the fuller discipline to his Church, lest he both bear the sin of those who are committed to him, and vehemently provoke us against himself, if in the care of his office—which we do not wish—he shall have proved himself heedless or slow. But we wish that our aforesaid brother Paschasius appoint for himself both a vicedominus and a steward of the household, so that he may be able to be fit and prepared both for guests arriving and for the affairs that occur.

But if you perceive him both negligent and putting off the fulfilment of the things we have said, all his clergy ought to be brought in, that by common counsel they themselves may choose those whose persons are worthy to be ordained to the things we have aforesaid.