Folia Theologica 16. (2005)

Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi: The rules concerning bishops in the Decretales. Pseudo-Isidorianae, especially the regulation on the death of bishops

RULES CONCERNING BISHOPS

151

That the bishop is the primary minister of the sacraments seems evident from the chapters on the sacraments in the collection.41 This is true especially concerning the Holy Orders. Moreover in the chapters about incardination it is clear that a cleric could to go over to another diocese only with the permission of a bishop (chapter 190).42 But the bishop could give this permission only in very serious cases (chapter 229),43 because it was opposed to the spiritual connection of the clergy and the diocese.

4. Conclusion

Based on what has been said above, the following observations can be made regarding the rules concerning bishops in the 74 Title Digest. The collection gives a concise overview on the duties and

egerint sue presumptionis suscipiant damnum, et illi qui ab eis perperam excommunicati aut damnati fuerint, auctoritate huius sancte sedis et beati preceptoris nostri clauigeri Petri potestate soluantur atque restituantur; ipsi enim ait Dominus; ‘Quecumque solueris super terram erunt soluta in terra et in celis.’ GILCHRIST, J.T. (ed.), Diuersorum, 64; cf. capp. 83, 85, 88, 90.

41 Cf. for example cap. 215. De hoc super quo rogastis, id est utrum maius esset sacramentum manus impositio episcoporum aut baptismus, scitote utrumque esse magnum sacramentum. Et sicut unum a maioribus fit, id est a summis pontificibus, quod a minoribus perfici non potest, ita et maiori ueneratione uenerandum et tenendum est. Sed ita coniuncta sunt hec duo sacramenta ut ab inuicem nisi morte preueniente nullatenus possint segregari, et unum sine altero rite perfici non potest. Nam unum preueniente morte saluare sine altero potest, aliud autem non potest. GILCHRIST, J.T. (ed.), Diuersorum. 136. Cap. 240. Sacramentum hactenus a summis sacerdotibus uel reliquis exigi nisi pro fide recta minime cognouimus nec sponte eos iurasse repperimus. sacramentum ergo episcopis nescimus oblatum nec umquam fieri debet. GILCHRIST. J.T. (ed.), Diuersorum, 149.

42 Si quis episcopus ciuitatis sue mediocritate despecta administrationem celebrioris loci ambierit et ad maiorem se plebem quacumque ratione transtulerit, a cathedra quidem pellatur aliena, sed carebit et propria, ut nec illis presideat quos per auaritiam concupiuit nec illis quos per superbiam spreuit. Suis igitur terminis quique contentus sit nec supra mensuram iuris sui affectet augeri. GILCHRIST, J.T. (ed.), Diuersorum, 118-119.

43 Alienum clericum inuito episcopo ipsius nemo suscipiat nemo sollicitet, nisi forte ex placito caritatis id inter dantem accipientemque conuenerit. Itaque si intra prouinciam res agitur, transfugam clericum ad ecclesiam suam metropolitanus redire compellat. Si autem longius recessit, sui precepti auctoritate reucabitur, ut nec cupiditati nec ambitioni occasio relinquatur. GILCHRIST, J.T. (ed.), Diuersorum, 143.