Letter 4034: How the law urgently prosecutes the most abominable pravity of heretics is not unknown to your Excellency. It is therefore no light sin if these, whom both the integrity of our faith and the strictness of the laws condemn, should find licence to creep up again in your times. Now in those parts, so far as we have learned, the audacity of the Dona...

Gregory to Pantaleo, Prefect of Africa. Your Excellency is well aware of how urgently the law prosecutes the detestable perversity of heretics. It is therefore no light sin if those whom both the integrity of our faith and the strictness of the laws condemn should find room to creep back during your administration. We have learned that in those regions the Donatists have grown so bold that they not only eject Catholic priests from their churches with pestilent presumption, but even dare to rebaptize those whom the waters of true baptism had already cleansed. We are deeply surprised — if it is indeed true — that while you hold authority in those parts, such wickedness is permitted. Consider first what judgment men will pass on you if heretics who were justly suppressed under your predecessors find an opening for their excesses under your watch. Consider also that our God will require from your hand the souls of the lost, if you fail to correct so great an abomination to the extent your office demands. Do not take offense at my speaking plainly, Your Excellency. It is because we love you as our own children that we point out what we are confident will be to your advantage. Send our brother and fellow bishop Paul to us with all speed, and permit no one to hinder his journey under any excuse. Once we have ascertained the full truth, we will be able, with God's help, to determine how the punishment of so great a crime should proceed.

Book IV, Letter 34 To Pantaleo, Præfect. Gregory to Pantaleo, Præfect of Africa. How the law urgently prosecutes the most abominable pravity of heretics is not unknown to your Excellency. It is therefore no light sin if these, whom both the integrity of our faith and the strictness of the laws condemn, should find licence to creep up again in your times. Now in those parts, so far as we have learned, the audacity of the Donatists has so increased that not only do they with pestiferous assumption of authority cast out of their churches priests of the Catholic faith, but fear not even to rebaptize those whom the water of regeneration had cleansed on a true confession. And we are much surprised, if indeed it is so, that, while you are placed in those parts, bad men should be allowed thus to exceed. Consider only in the first place what kind of judgment you will leave to be passed upon you by men, if these, who in the times of others were with just reason put down, find under your administration a way for their excesses. In the next place know that our God will require at your hand the souls of the lost, if you neglect to amend, so far as possibility requires it of you, so great an abomination. Let not your Excellency take amiss my thus speaking. For it is because we love you as our own children that we point out to you what we doubt not will be to your advantage. But send to us with all speed our brother and fellow bishop Paul , lest opportunity should be given to any one under any excuse for hindering his coming; in order that, on ascertaining the truth more fully, we may be able, with God's help, to settle by a reasonable treatment of the case how the punishment of so great a crime ought to be proceeded with.