Folia Theologica 3. (1992)
Charles Duggan: Decretal letters to Hungary
DECRETAL LETTERS 27 canons, that they can neither be promoted nor even retain their previous rank, even after penance, if their offences are notorious or can be judicially proven. On the other hand, if their offences are neither notorious nor proven, they should be admonished, in the interests of their own salvation, not to minister in their orders. But in this situation, since the sin is secret, the recipient cannot, debar them from ministry or promotion. Until the discovery of the Sigiienza collection by Fransen, Ex tue fraternitatis consulto was known only in the collection of Gilbertus Anglicus, Fuld. and Comp., assigned to Clement III, without identification of its recipient. The Sigiienza manuscript records the decretal among the letters of Celestine III, within the limits 15 April — 25 October 1191, with the address Arben. episcopo, that is Arbenensi episcopo, to the bishop of Arbe or Rab, in the province of Zara. It also uniquely preserves the final sentence. Celestinus III Arbensi episcopo [i] Ex tue fraternitatis consulto percepimus, te velle apostolice sedis certitudinem" edoceri, utrum sacerdotes, vel alii in sacro ordine constituti, qui per lapsum carnis reatum adulterii incurrerunt, vel fornicationis, vel incestus, vel periurii, vel alii falsi testimonii, vel homicidii crimine irretiri, bonum recte conscientie perdiderunt, si peracta condigna penitencia de commisso, in prioribus ordinibus tolerari, vel aliis suffragantibus meritis provehi valeant ad maiora. Super quo fraternitatem tuam presenti responsione reddimus certiorem quatinus si notoria sint* crimina, que predixi- mus, vel ordine iudiciario comprobata, tales reos censura sacrorum canonum, etiam post peractam penitenciam, non tantum ad altiora progredi non permittit, verum etiam iubet gradum pristinum non tenere. Porro si proposita crimina contra aliquem notoria non fuerint, vel ordine iudiciario comprobata, monende sunt persone tales, que eis retinentur obnoxiec et terrore iudicii divini obtestande, ut in testimonium dampnationis sue in suscepto ordine non ministrarent, [ii] Verumtamen hoc in casu ultimo, cum peccatum occultum sit, si promoveri vel ministrare desiderant, non potes nec debes ratione aliqua prohibere. Datum Rome. * * * WH 515: JL 16617: Clement III, episcopo cuidam, 1187-91. Part [i] only: Gilb. 1.9.2, Fuld. 1.11.1, 2 Comp. 1.8.3; complete text only in Seg. 45: Idem arben. episcopo, in eodem libro = Celestine III arbensi episcopo, 15 April—25 October
