Church and State in Early Christianity by Rahner Fr. Hugo

Author:Rahner, Fr. Hugo [Rahner, Fr. Hugo]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Spiritual & Religion
ISBN: 9780898703771
Published: 2013-12-15T08:00:00+00:00

DOCUMENTS

15

POPE LEO1

“Letter to Emperor Theodosius II”, 44 (PL 54,827-31)

Leo, the bishop, and the holy synod assembled at Rome to Theodosius Augustus.

From Your Clemency’s letter, which in your love for the Catholic Faith you sent some time ago to the see of the Blessed Apostle Peter, we drew such confidence in your defense of truth and peace that we thought nothing harmful could happen in so simple and well-ordered a matter. Especially since those sent to the episcopal council, which you ordered convened at Ephesus, were so fully instructed that, had the bishop of Alexandria allowed the letters they brought to the holy synod and to Flavian the bishop to be read out to the bishops, the declaration of the pure and divinely inspired Faith we both have received and hold would have silenced all argument so that ignorance could no longer display itself, nor jealousy find occasion for mischief. But because private interests are furthered under cover of religion, the disloyalty of a few has wounded the whole Church. It was no untrustworthy messenger but an eyewitness, Hilary, our deacon, who has provided us with information after fleeing with difficulty from the council in order to avoid being forced to approve its proceedings. We have learned that a great many bishops attended the synod. Their numbers would doubtless have assisted the debate and decision, if the presiding bishop had restrained himself with priestly moderation, in order that, according to custom, when all had freely expressed their opinion, after quiet and fair deliberation, a decision might have been reached agreeable to the Faith and helpful to the erring. But we are informed that all who had come were not present at the actual decision; we have learned that some were rejected and others admitted, who signed the acts at the presiding bishop’s orders out of fear of reprisals. The final decision sought by the chairman in his attack on one man has injured the whole Church. Our delegates from the Apostolic See realized that the decision was so blasphemous and opposed to the Catholic Faith that no pressure could force them to assent. At the synod they stoutly protested, as they should have, that the Apostolic See would never accept what was being decided. The whole system of the Christian Faith will be absolutely destroyed (which heaven forbid in Your Grace’s reign), unless this abominable evil, which exceeds all former blasphemies, is abolished.

Because a diabolical subtlety deceives the unwary and so mocks the imprudence of some by a show of piety that it persuades them to accept the harmful instead of the good, we pray, Your Grace, renounce all complicity in this danger to religion and Faith and treat divine things with the same respect given to worldly affairs according to your laws—that human presumption not damage Christ’s gospel. Behold, most Christian and honored Emperor, I with my fellow priests full of sincere love for your reverence and desiring that you be in all things pleasing to God, to whom prayers

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