Letter 10004

From: Gregory the Great, Pope, in Rome To: Savinus, regional subdeacon Date: ~600 AD Context: Gregory instructs Savinus to investigate charges of idolatry and sodomy against a priest named Sisinnius. Gregory to Savinus, regional subdeacon. Serious charges have been brought against the priest Sisinnius — charges of idolatry and of sexual immorality. I direct you to investigate these charges thoroughly and impartially. This kind of investigation is among the most serious responsibilities of a church official. The charges are grave; if true, they require severe action. But they may not be true, and accusations brought against a priest do not constitute evidence. Investigate carefully before drawing any conclusions. Hear from all relevant parties. Examine whatever evidence is available. Then report to me with your findings, and I will determine what action is appropriate. Do not rush to judgment in either direction. Gregory

AD SAVINUM SUBDIACONUM REGIONARICUM. In Sisinnium pres|-yterum de idololatria et 8046mia ac- cusatum inquirat diligentissime. Illum, si adsint indi- cia, detrudal in carcerem. Kuindem coqat ad redden- Jum orphanis Victoriani presbyteri ſiliis depositunt. {,regorius Savino subdiacono regionario. Cum ' plerumque quod in laicis * culpa es1l, hoc crimen in $acrQ Sit ordine conslitutis, LQA4&4 quanla in eis districtione puniendum Sit Þ piaculare fagitium, qui zelo reclitudinis © uritur non ign« rat. Quorumdam siquidem relatione perlatum est, quia Sisinnius, Regilan:e civitatis presbyter, quod auditu jps0 intolerabile nimis est, idolorum venerator ac cvltor Sit, adeo ut in domo $ua quoddam idolum positum habere prasumeret. Sed et, quod non dissi- mile nefas est., Sodomiz illum scetere maculatum. Et ideo quia Llanti facinoris iniquitas districta atque $ubtili investigatione quarenda atqueglectenda ext , hac tibi auctorilate priacipimus ut vigilanti stgio et diligenti omnino cura perquiras; et $i qua tudicia apprehendere hujus rei potueris, eum in custodiam districtam , quousque nobis renunlies, redigas; ut qualiter immanis$imuim facinus disculi debeat ac pu- niri, deliberare possimus. Scito aultem quia Stludium zelumque tuum qualis contra nefandissima $it Ccri- mina hac causa esL Sine dubio monstratura, per quam te apud 10s aut multum de $ollicitudine com- mendari, aut periculose de neglectu noveris ac- cuSari. Unde necesse cs ut ita te vigilantem in hac requisitione sludeas exlibere, qua'enus et nos de $uI- licitudine la latifices, ct beum libi ſacias esse pla- C cabilem. llvc quoque nobis de pradicto presbytero nuntia- jum est, quod Viclorianus quidam presbyler ei cum diversis rebus vel ornamentis © auctoritale Sua pe- cuniam commendassel ; qui dum depositum abnega- ret, judicio habilo convictus est, et ut reddere de- buissel addictus. Et quia, co restiluere id quod con=- demnatus est diſſerente, is qui deposui>se dicitur obiit, el necessilate czus perbibentur filii laborare, et hoc experientia tua diligenter inquirat, atque ita , salva ratione, ad finem hauc causam perducat ; dummodo, Si ila est, nec ille res alienas perſida mente retincat, ErisT. IV [AL 3]: — * In Excusis, gravissimo er- rore culpa non est ; re, uguantibus Mss. Norm., Reg., Corb , Turon., Khem., etc. Significat sarctus Gre» gorius culpam quz in laicis est levior, in clericis, MaXxi4zie SL SACTO In ordine Sint Conslituli, graviorem e:8e, Idem docet sanctus Chrysoslomus hom. 77 ad populum Antioch, : Sacerdos cadem cum 8b (itis pec-. cata commillens, non eadem, scd multo gratiora paitte- (ur, Partim ex GUSSANY. | © In Norm., Kemig. et Colbert., utitur. 114 est, reser valo Sibi jure rei suz vindicand:e quilibet usvcapione rejecla. Ita Alciatus auctorita- lem expout ad legem 115, De verborum s8ignif. GUus- Saxv. Yarie legitur hic locus in Mss. In Neri. : Vic:or. presb. diversas res vel ornamenta auctoritati ma, atque pecuniam. Tia Rhem. et Vatic. D, bis wu: tis, ornamenta actionis wwr. ly \atic. Bet E, 1:70 A et orphani quod snum est vel amis$0 patre reci- piant.