Christianity in Roman Africa by Burns J. Patout Jr.; Jensen Robin M.; & Robin M. Jensen

Author:Burns, J. Patout, Jr.; Jensen, Robin M.; & Robin M. Jensen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: REL015000 Religion / Christianity / History
Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company

Repentance by the Clergy

Cyprian’s correspondence evinces several instances of the application of penitential discipline to the clergy. He insisted that any bishop who had failed must be permanently removed from office. The Italian bishop, Trofimus, was allowed by Cornelius, the Bishop of Rome, to return to communion as a layman when he brought back the congregation he had led into apostasy.180 Bishops who sacrificed were excluded from communion.181 Two bishops in Spain had been allowed by their colleagues to undertake penance, but they were removed from office.182

The African bishops showed greater flexibility in dealing with presbyters and deacons. Cyprian advised a colleague who had a rebellious deacon that he might either remove him from office or excommunicate him.183 Another deacon, who had been sharing the bed of a consecrated virgin, was suspended but apparently allowed to return to office after undergoing a penitential process.184 Two subdeacons and an acolyte who abandoned their positions during the persecution were suspended from office and salaries until their cases could be judged by the whole congregation.185 Any presbyter or deacon who refused to follow the bishop’s directive to withhold communion from those who lapsed during the persecution was to be excommunicated and allowed to return only with the approval of the entire congregation.186 A presbyter who sacrificed was subject to the same discipline as the laity.187 Schismatic presbyters and deacons were allowed to return to the church but only among the laity.188

The clergy, then, were subject to the same penitential discipline as the laity. When they were reconciled, however, the bishops were excluded from their leadership positions, but presbyters and deacons may have been allowed to return to their offices, depending on the nature of their offenses.189

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