Letter 9027: It has come to our ears that certain men, having altogether too little discernment, desire us to become implicated in their risks, and wish to be so defended by ecclesiastical persons, that the ecclesiastical persons themselves may be bound by their guilt. Wherefore I admonish you by this present injunction, and through you our brother and fello...

Gregory to Romanus, Defensor [church legal officer]. I have heard that certain people with very poor judgment want to drag us into their problems. They seek the protection of Church officials in order to shield themselves, even though their guilt would then stain the Church itself. I am warning you -- and through you, our brother and fellow bishop John, and anyone else this concerns -- that when you extend ecclesiastical patronage to people, whether you have received specific letters from me or not, you must exercise it with restraint. If someone has been involved in embezzlement of public funds, they must not appear to be unjustly shielded by us. I will not have us absorb the bad reputation of wrongdoers through reckless defense. But within what is proper for the Church -- through counsel, through intercession, through a well-placed word -- help those you can. Find the balance: give real aid without staining the reputation of the holy Church.

Book IX, Letter 27 To Romanus, Guardian (Defensorem). Gregory to Romanus, etc. It has come to our ears that certain men, having altogether too little discernment, desire us to become implicated in their risks, and wish to be so defended by ecclesiastical persons, that the ecclesiastical persons themselves may be bound by their guilt. Wherefore I admonish you by this present injunction, and through you our brother and fellow bishop, the lord John, or others whom it may concern, that with regard to ecclesiastical patronage of people (whether you should have received letters from me, or none should have been addressed to you), you should bestow it with such moderation that, if any have been implicated in public peculations, they may not appear to be unjustly defended by us, lest we should in any way transfer to ourselves, by venturing on indiscreet defense, the ill repute of evil doers: but so far as becomes the Church, by admonishing and applying the word of intercession, succour whom you can; so that you may both give them aid, and not stain the repute of holy Church. About this page Source. Translated by James Barmby. From Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Second Series, Vol. 13. Edited by Philip Schaff and Henry Wace. (Buffalo, NY: Christian Literature Publishing Co., 1898.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/360209027.htm>. Contact information. The editor of New Advent is Kevin Knight. My email address is feedback732 at newadvent.org. (To help fight spam, this address might change occasionally.) Regrettably, I can't reply to every letter, but I greatly appreciate your feedback — especially notifications about typographical errors and inappropriate ads.