Letter 3046: Gregory to John, Bishop of Calliopolis [Gallipoli, in Calabria]. From the reports sent to us by your Fraternity it appears that Andrew, our brother and fellow bishop, undoubtedly had a concubine. But, since it is uncertain whether he has touched her while constituted in sacred orders, it is necessary that you should warn him with earnest exhorta...
Pope Gregory the Great→John of Jerusalem|c. 592 AD|Pope Gregory the Great|Human translated
illness
Military conflict
Gregory to John, Bishop of Gallipoli.
From the reports your Fraternity has sent us, it is clear that our brother and fellow bishop Andrew did in fact keep a concubine. Since it remains uncertain whether he had relations with her after his ordination to sacred orders, you must warn him with serious and urgent exhortation: if he knows himself to have had intercourse with her while in sacred orders, he should step down from his office and minister no longer. And if, knowing this to be true, he conceals his sin and presumes to continue ministering, let him understand that he faces peril before God's judgment.
Regarding the woman on the Church rolls whom he had beaten with clubs — though we do not believe she died as a result eight months later — since he ordered this punishment in a manner wholly unbecoming his sacred calling, suspend him from celebrating Mass for two months. Perhaps this disgrace will teach him how to conduct himself in the future.
Additionally, the clergy under the aforementioned bishop have submitted a petition to us, appended below, alleging that they suffer considerable mistreatment from him. Your Fraternity is to investigate all these allegations thoroughly, and to correct and settle them in a reasonable manner so that they have no cause to bring such complaints to us again. July, Indiction 11.
Book III, Letter 46
To John, Bishop.
Gregory to John, Bishop of Calliopolis [Gallipoli, in Calabria].
From the reports sent to us by your Fraternity it appears that Andrew, our brother and fellow bishop, undoubtedly had a concubine. But, since it is uncertain whether he has touched her while constituted in sacred orders, it is necessary that you should warn him with earnest exhortation that, if he knows himself to have had intercourse with her while in sacred orders, he should retire from the office which he holds, and minister no longer. And if, though conscious of having done this thing, he should conceal his sin and presume to minister, let him know that peril hangs over his soul in the divine judgment.
As to the woman on the Church-roll, whom he caused to be chastised with cudgels, though we do not believe that she died eight months afterwards, yet, since he caused her to be thus punished inconsistently with his sacred calling, do thou suspend him for two months from the solemnization of mass, that at any rate this disgrace may teach him how to behave himself in future.
Moreover, the clergy of the aforesaid bishop, in a petition presented to us, which is subjoined below, allege that they endure much ill-treatment from him. Wherefore let your Fraternity take care to ascertain all these things accurately, and so to correct and arrange them in a reasonable way that they may be under no necessity hereafter of resorting hither on account of this matter. In the month of July, indiction 11.
◆
Gregory to John, Bishop of Gallipoli.
From the reports your Fraternity has sent us, it is clear that our brother and fellow bishop Andrew did in fact keep a concubine. Since it remains uncertain whether he had relations with her after his ordination to sacred orders, you must warn him with serious and urgent exhortation: if he knows himself to have had intercourse with her while in sacred orders, he should step down from his office and minister no longer. And if, knowing this to be true, he conceals his sin and presumes to continue ministering, let him understand that he faces peril before God's judgment.
Regarding the woman on the Church rolls whom he had beaten with clubs — though we do not believe she died as a result eight months later — since he ordered this punishment in a manner wholly unbecoming his sacred calling, suspend him from celebrating Mass for two months. Perhaps this disgrace will teach him how to conduct himself in the future.
Additionally, the clergy under the aforementioned bishop have submitted a petition to us, appended below, alleging that they suffer considerable mistreatment from him. Your Fraternity is to investigate all these allegations thoroughly, and to correct and settle them in a reasonable manner so that they have no cause to bring such complaints to us again. July, Indiction 11.
Human translation — New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)