Canon
IV.
If
any bishop, presbyter,
deacon, sub-deacon, lector, cantor, or door-keeper has had intercourse
with a woman dedicated to God, let him be deposed, as one who has
corrupted a spouse of Christ, but if a layman let him be cut off.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon IV.
A cleric coupled to a spouse of God shall be
deposed. In the case of a layman he shall be cut off.
This canon is found in the
Corpus Juris Canonici
,
Gratian’s
Decretum
, Pars II., Causa XXVII., Q. I., c.
vj.
A layman ravishing a nun, by secular law was punished by
death. Balsamon gives the reference thus: V Cap. primi tit.
iiij. lib. Basilic. or cxxiij. Novel.