Canons of the Council of Carthage (390)

… of sixty-one bishops, in the era 428, on the sixteenth day before the Kalends of July.

Bishop Genethlius said: "I give thanks to Almighty God, who has allowed you to come to Carthage, though not all of you, for the faith and the good of the church, according to the common counsel held in the past and according to the tenor of the request in my letters. Yet since love persuades us entirely that those who are absent in body are seen to be joined with us in spirit, therefore, since by God's favour you are present, the faith of the church which is handed down through us must first of all be confessed with one profession in this glorious assembly. Then at last the order of the church is to be established, item by item and with the consent of all, to strengthen the minds of our brothers and fellow bishops lately promoted, concerning the matters to be proposed, which we have received from the fathers by a fixed arrangement: that we instruct the peoples of God, as we have learned, in the Trinity, which we keep consecrated in our minds, the unity of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, which is known to have no difference." It was said by all the bishops: "Plainly, so we have received, so we hold, so we teach, following the apostolic faith."

Epigonius, bishop of the Bulla region, said: "Since at the previous council the subject of continence and chastity was treated, let these three ranks, which by their consecrations are bound by a certain obligation of chastity, I mean bishop, presbyter, and deacon, be taught in a fuller treatment to keep purity." Bishop Genethlius said: "As was said above, it is fitting that the holy bishops and priests of God, and also the Levites, or those who serve the divine sacraments, be continent in all things, so that they may obtain without hindrance what they ask of the Lord; and that what the apostles taught and antiquity itself observed, we too may keep." It was said by all the bishops: "It pleases all that the bishop, presbyter, and deacon, guardians of purity, also abstain from their wives, so that purity may be kept in all things and by all who serve the altar."

Numidius, bishop of Maxula, said: "If your holiness bids me, I propose, for I remember that it was decreed in previous councils that the chrism, or the reconciliation of penitents, and also the consecration of virgins, should not be done by presbyters; but if anyone is found doing this, what should be decreed about him?" Bishop Genethlius said: "Your worthiness has heard the proposal of our brother and fellow bishop Numidius; what do you say to this?" It was said by all the bishops: "That the making of the chrism and the consecration of virgins should not be done by presbyters, and that it is not permitted to a presbyter to reconcile anyone at the public Mass: this pleases all."

Bishop Genethlius said: "If anyone is in danger and asks to be reconciled to the divine altars, if the bishop is absent, the presbyter ought of course to consult the bishop, and so reconcile the one in danger at his command; this we ought to confirm by salutary counsel." It was said by all the bishops: "What your holiness has deigned to instruct us, as was necessary, pleases all."

Felix, bishop of Selemsela, said: "Also, if this pleases your holiness, I suggest that dioceses which have never had bishops should not have them, and that a diocese which once had one should have its own; and if in course of time, as the faith grows, the people of God, having multiplied, desire to have their own ruler, let it have a bishop, with the will, that is, of the one in whose authority the diocese is placed. It is for your holiness to judge what should be done according to this proposal." Bishop Genethlius said: "If the suggestion of our brother and fellow bishop Felix pleases, let it be confirmed by all." It was said by all the bishops: "It pleases, it pleases."

Numidius, bishop of Maxula, said: "Moreover, there are very many of bad conduct who think that elders or bishops may be assailed with accusations everywhere and at random; ought they to be admitted so easily, against the apostolic rule, or not?" Bishop Genethlius said: "Does it please your love, then, that one who is entangled in any crimes should have no voice to accuse an elder?" It was said by all the bishops: "If he is a criminal, it pleases all that he not be admitted."

Felix, bishop of Selemsela, said: "This too I suggest to your holiness: concerning those who are expelled from the church for their crimes and dare either to go to the court, or to rush into the public courts, or perhaps to attempt the thresholds of the catholic church, a bishop or cleric of any people: what do you judge about them?" Epigonius, bishop of the Bulla region, said: "If any bishop holding catholic communion entices such a man with empty flatteries, let him know that he is corrupted together with those rejected, passing over into their lot." Bishop Genethlius said: "Our brothers and fellow bishops rightly suggest, then, that if those who have been expelled from the church for the merit of their crimes are received into communion by any bishop or cleric, he too is to be held liable to the same charge with them." It was said by all the bishops: "It pleases all."

Felix, bishop of Selemsela, said: "Nor should this be passed over: if perhaps any presbyter, rebuked or excommunicated by his bishop, puffed up with arrogance or pride, thinks he should offer sacrifices to God separately, or set up another altar, and believes he may act against the faith and discipline of the church, let him not go unpunished." Bishop Genethlius said: "What our brother Felix has set out is necessary to the discipline of the church and in keeping with the faith; so declare what seems good to your love about it." It was said by all the bishops: "If any presbyter has been excommunicated or rebuked by his superior, he ought of course to complain to the neighbouring bishops, so that his case may be heard by them and he may be reconciled to his bishop through them. If he does not do this, but, puffed up with pride (which God forbid), thinks he should separate himself from the communion of his bishop, and, making a schism with some, offers sacrifice to God separately, let him lose his place and be held anathema; and let him also be driven far from the city in which he was, lest by serpent-like deceit he lead astray the ignorant or those who live in simplicity. According to the Apostle, the church is one, one faith, one baptism. And if he has a just complaint against the bishop, it will have to be investigated."

Numidius, bishop of Maxula, said: "In some places there are presbyters who, either simply out of ignorance or boldly feigning ignorance, celebrate the liturgy in very many houses while the bishop is present and without consulting him, which your holiness knows to be inconsistent with discipline." Bishop Genethlius said: "Let our brothers and fellow bishops not delay to answer your worthy suggestion." It was said by all the bishops: "Any presbyter who, without consulting the bishop, wishes to celebrate the liturgy in any place whatever acts against his own rank."

Felix, bishop of Selemsela, said: "This too I add, according to the decrees of the ancient councils: that if any bishop, which we do not wish, incurs some charge, and there is such great necessity that many cannot be gathered, so that he may not remain under the charge, let him be heard by twelve bishops; and a presbyter by six, and a deacon by three together with his own bishop." Bishop Genethlius said: "What does your holiness say to this?" It was said by all the bishops: "It is right that the decrees of the ancients be kept by us."

Victor, bishop of Abdira, said: "The discipline of the church must be strengthened, so that no bishop by his importunity may trouble the people or diocese of another, or try to go beyond the boundaries set for him. How is one who attempts this to be restrained?" Bishop Genethlius said: "Both the holy law forbids and the truth itself does not allow anyone to covet what is another's; so mark with your own voice what pleases all of you." It was said by all the bishops: "It pleases that, according to the authority of the divine law, none of us transgress the boundaries of others."

Numidius, bishop of Maxula, said: "Some bishops, by a kind of usurpation, think they may ordain a bishop at the desire of the people, disregarding the primate of their province, without letters from him who holds the first see and without having received authority. What has your holiness decreed about this?" Bishop Genethlius said: "Since the honour that ought to be kept for each is a common one, it is for you, brothers, to pronounce on this very matter." It was said by all the bishops: "It pleases all that no one should so easily presume without consulting the primate of any province, even with many others, but that in no place ought a bishop to be ordained without his command, as has been said; but if there is necessity, three bishops, in whatever place they may be, should ordain with the primate's command."

Bishop Genethlius said: "Does it please, then, that everything that has been decreed by this most glorious assembly be kept by all?" It was said by all the bishops: "It pleases, it pleases; let them be kept by all." Bishop Genethlius said: "If, which we do not expect, they are violated by anyone, what do you decree?" It was said by all the bishops: "Whoever goes against his own profession or subscription has separated himself from this assembly." Bishop Genethlius said: "I give thanks that, by the gift of our God, we have decreed with salutary counsel that all these things be kept for the welfare of the catholic church; and therefore we ought to confirm by our own subscription what has been said by all." It was said by all the bishops: "Let it be done, let it be done." And they subscribed.