Canon XLVIII.
(Greek lii.)
Of rebaptisms, reordinations, and translations of
bishops.
But
we suggest that we decree
what was set forth by the wisdom of the plenary synod at Capua, that no
rebaptisings, nor reordinations should take place, and that bishops
should not be translated. For Cresconius, bishop of Villa Regis,
left his own people and invaded the Church of Tubinia and having been
admonished down to this very day, to leave, according to the decree,
the diocese he had invaded, he treated the admonition with
disdain. We have heard that the sentence pronounced against him
has been confirmed; but we seek, according to our decree, that ye deign
to grant that being driven thereto by necessity, it be free to us to
address the rector of the province against him, according to the
statutes of the most glorious princes, so that whoever is not willing
to acquiesce in the mild admonition of your holiness and to amend his
lawlessness, shall be immediately cast out by judicial authority.
Aurelius the bishop said: By the observance of the constituted
form, let him not be judged to be a member of the synod, if he has been
asked by you, dear brethren, to depart and has refused: for out
of his own contempt and contumacy he has fallen to the power of the
secular magistrate.
450
Honoratus
and Urban the bishops said: This pleases us all, does it
not? And all the bishops answered: It is just, it pleases
us.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon
XLVIII.
Let there be no rebaptisms, nor reordinations nor
translations of bishops. Therefore let Cresconius be forbidden by
judicial authority, for he has left his own people, and has taken
possession of the diocese of Ceneum, although ecclesiastically
admonished that he was not to change.
This canon is Canon j., of the Synod of Carthage of
August 28th.
a.d.
397. The acts of this
synod were first accurately edited by the Ballerini (in their edition
of the works of St. Leo) and were printed by Mansi, in an amended form,
in his
Concilia
.
450
I have followed the
Greek text here, the Latin is very confused.