Let no one seize for himself what he thinks belongs to him: but let the bishops judge or where the Primate will give, or whom the neighbouring bishops shall give with his consent. But whosoever has received letters from the primate concerning the keeping [of such regions and churches] merely deceives himself.This is Canon xij. of Carthage, a.d. 418.
Canon CXXI.
(Greek cxxii.) Of those who neglect the peoples belonging to them.
Item, it seemed good that whoever neglect to bring the places belonging to their see into Catholic unity should be admonished by the neighbouring diligent bishops, that they delay no longer to do this; but if within six months from the day of the convention they do nothing, let them pertain to him who can win them: but with this proviso however, that if he to whom it seemed they naturally belonged can prove that this neglect was intentional and more efficacious in winning them than the greater apparent diligence of others; when the episcopal judges shall be convinced that this is the case, they shall restore the places to his see. If the bishops between whom the cause lies are of different provinces, let the Primate in whose province the place is situated about which there is the dispute, appoint judges; but if by mutual consent they have chosen as judges the neighbouring bishops, let one or three be chosen: so that if they choose three they may follow the sentence of all or of two.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon CXXI.
If any neglect what belongs to their jurisdiction, let them be admonished ; and if they shall do nothing within a six month, let them be adjudged to him who can win them. But if they have committed the neglect out of policy so as not to irritate the heretics, and this shall appear to have been the case, their sees shall be restored to them, by the judgment of the bishops either appointed or elected.This is Canon xiij. of Carthage, a.d. 418.
Canon CXXII.
(Greek cxxiii.) The sentence of the elected judges ought not to be spurned.
From the judges chosen by common consent of the parties, no appeal can be taken; and whoever shall be found to have carried such an appeal and contumaciously to be unwilling to submit to the judges, when this has been proved to the primate, let him give letters, that no one of the bishops should communicate with him until he yield.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon CXXII.
A judge chosen by both parties cannot be repudiated.This is Canon xiv. of Carthage, a.d. 418.Johnson,See Canons 76 (79) and 80 (83).
Canon CXXIII.
(Greek cxxiv.) That if a bishop neglects his diocese he is to be deprived of communion.
IF in the mother cathedrals a bishop should have been negligent against the heretics, let a meeting be held of the neighbouring diligent bishops, and let his negligence be pointed out to him, so that he can have no excuse. But if within six months after this meeting, if an execution was in his own province, and he had taken no care to convert them to Catholic unity, no one shall communicate with him till he does his duty. But if no executor shah have come to the places, then the fault shall not be laid to the bishop.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon CXXIII.
A bishop who spurns the care of heretics, and if after being warned he continues for six months in his contempt, and has no care for their conversion, is to be excommunicated.This is Canon xv. of Carthage, a.d. 418.
Johnson.
So [i.e. "Metropoles"] I turn matrices cathedrae. I know indeed there were no fixed ecclesiastical metropoles, in Africa; but they had civil metropoles called by that name, can. 86, (89) which see.
Of these officers [i.e. "Executors "] see can. 97 (100).
Canon CXXIV.
(Greek cxxv.) Of bishops who shall lie with regard to Donatists' communions.
IF it shall be proven that any bishop has lied concerning the communion of those [who had been Donatists], and had said that they had communicated when he knew it was an established fact that they had not done so, let him lose his bishoprick.