Letter 9015: If ancient emperors strove to devise laws so that their subjects might enjoy delightful peace, it is far nobler to...

From: Cassiodorus, on behalf of King Athalaric To: Pope John Date: ~522 AD Context: A major decree against simony (the buying and selling of church offices), prompted by reports that sacred vessels were being sold during papal elections. Athalaric reinforces earlier Senate legislation on the matter. If ancient emperors strove to devise laws so that their subjects might enjoy delightful peace, it is far nobler to decree measures that accord with sacred rules. Let the damaging profits of our age be banished. The only thing we can truly call gain is what divine judgment does not punish. Recently, a defender of the Roman Church came to us with a tearful complaint: when a bishop was being chosen for the apostolic see, certain men exploited the crisis of the moment through wicked scheming, burdening the poor with extorted promises so heavily that -- unspeakable to say -- even sacred vessels appeared to have been put up for public sale. What was so cruel in its commission is equally glorious to cut away with an act of piety. Therefore, let your holiness know that we have decreed the following by the present ruling -- which we also wish to apply to all patriarchal and metropolitan churches: from the time of the most holy Pope Boniface [Boniface I, pope 418-422], when the conscript fathers of the Senate, mindful of their nobility, passed decrees prohibiting such corrupt payments, anyone who is shown to have promised anything -- whether personally or through any intermediary -- in the obtaining of a bishopric, that abominable contract shall be voided with full force. If anyone is found to have been involved in this crime, we leave them no legal standing. Indeed, if they believe they can reclaim what was promised or refuse to return what was received, they shall immediately be held guilty of sacrilege and compelled to restore what they took by order of the competent judge. The most just laws open the way for the virtuous just as they close it for the corrupt. Furthermore, we command that everything decreed in that Senate resolution be enforced in full against those who have entangled themselves -- in any manner or through any intermediary -- in these criminal transactions. And because all things must be governed with moderation, and nothing excessive can be called just: when a dispute arises over the consecration of the apostolic pontiff and the matter is brought to our palace, we wish the following rules to apply...

XV. IOHANNI PAPAE ATHALARICUS REX. [1] Si antiquis principibus studium fuit leges exquirere, ut subiecti populi delectabili tranquillitate fruerentur, multo praestantius est talia decernere, quae possunt sacris regulis convenire. absint enim a nostro saeculo damnosa compendia. illud tantum vere possumus lucrum dicere, quod constat divina iudicia non punire. [2] Nuper siquidem ad nos defensor ecclesiae Romanae flebili allegatione pervenit, cum apostolicae sedi peteretur antistes, quosdam nefaria machinatione necessitatem temporis aucupatos ita facultates pauperum extortis promissionibus ingravasse, ut, quod dictu nefas est, etiam sacra vasa emptioni publicae viderentur exposita. hoc quantum fuit crudele committi, tanto gloriosum est adhibita pietate resecari. [3] Atque ideo sanctitas vestra statuisse nos praesenti definitione cognoscat, quod etiam ad universos patriarchas atque metropolitanas ecclesias volumus pertinere, ut a tempore sanctissimi papae Bonifatii, cum de talibus prohibendis suffragiis patres conscripti senatus consulta nobilitatis suae memores condiderunt, quicumque in episcopatu optinendo sive per se sive per aliam quamcumque personam aliquid promisisse declaratur, ut exsecrabilis contractus cunctis viribus effetetur. [4] Si quis autem in hoc scelere deprehenditur fuisse versatus, nullam relinquimus vocem, verum etiam si aut repetendum aut quod acceptum est non reddendum esse crediderit, sacrilegii reus protinus habeatur, accepta restituens compulsione iudicis competentis. iustissimae siquidem leges ut bonis aperiunt, ita claudunt malis moribus actionem. [5] Praeterea quidquid in illo senatus decretum est consulto, praecipimus in eos modis omnibus custodiri, qui se quoquo modo vel interpositas quascumque personas scelestis contractibus miscuerunt. [6] Et quia omnia decet sub ratione moderari nec possunt dici iusta quae nimia sunt, cum de apostolici consecratione pontificis intentio fortasse provenerit et ad palatium nostrum perducta fuerit altercatio populorum, suggerentes nobis intra tria milia solidorum cum collectione chartarum censemus accipere. a quibus tamen omnes idoneos rei ipsius consideratione removemus, quia de ecclesiastico munere pauperibus est potius consulendum. [7] Alios vero patriarchas, quando in comitatu nostro de eorum ordinatione tractatur, in supra dictis condicionibus atque personis intra duo milia solidorum iubemus expendere. in civitatibus autem suis tenuissimae plebi non amplius quam quingentos solidos se distributuros esse cognoscant. reliquos accipientes et edicti praesentis et senatus consulti nuper habiti poena constringat: sed et dantes canonum severitas persequatur. [8] Vos autem, qui patriarcharum honore reliquis praesidetis ecclesiis, quoniam constitutio nostra ab illicita promissione liberavit, restat ut bona imitantes exempla sine aliquo ecclesiarum dispendio dignos maiestate pontifices offeratis. iniquum est enim, ut locum apud vos habeat ambitus, quem nos laicis divina consideratione perclusimus. [9] Quapropter si quis apostolicae praesul ecclesiae vel patriarcharum episcopum sive per se sive per parentes vel servientium quascumque personas aliqua suffragii crediderit ambitione promovendum, et ipsum reddere accepta definimus et quod est canonibus statutum, eum modis omnibus esse passurum. si quis vero quae dederit aut promiserit eodem superstite timuerit publicare, ab heredibus vel proheredibus eius ecclesia repetat, cuius suffragio antistes deprehenditur ordinatus, nota infamiae nihilominus superstites inurente. reliquos quoque ordines sub eadem fieri districtione praecipimus. [10] Quod si forsitan dolosae machinationis invento sacramentis persona intercedentibus fuerit obligata, ut salvo statu animae commissam iniquitatem neque approbare possit neque audeat accusare, damus licentiam quibuslibet honestis personis in singulis quibusque civitatibus apud iudices competentes hoc crimen deferre, et quicquid ex ea potuerit probatione recolligi, ut ad probationem insequentes animemus, tertiam partem indicatae rei ille percipiat, qui tale facinus voluerit approbare: reliqua ipsis ecclesiis proficiat quod videntur extorta, aut in fabricis earum aut in ministeriis nihilominus profutura. decet enim ad usus bonos convertere quae voluit perversitas iniqua fraudare. [11] Quiescat igitur malignantium prava cupiditas. quo tendunt, qui a fonte praeclusi sunt? recolatur et timeatur Simonis iusta damnatio, qui emendum credidit totius largitatis auctorem. orate ergo pro nobis edicta nostra custodientes, quae divinis noscitis convenire mysteriis. sed quo facilius principis votum universorum mentibus innotescat, hoc senatui, hoc populis per praefectum urbis praecipimus intimari, ut generalitas agnoscat nos illos persequi, qui maiestati potius videntur adversi. vos quoque hoc universis, quos deo propitio regitis, episcopis intimate, ne quis sit alienus a culpa qui potuit agnoscere constituta.