Letter 9055: A little time ago we wrote to Victor, our brother and fellow bishop, that — inasmuch as certain of the Jews have complained in a petition presented to us that synagogues with their -chambers, situated in the city of Panormus, had by him been unreasonably taken possession of — he should keep aloof from their congregation until it could be ascerta...

Gregory to Fantinus, Defensor [church legal officer] of Palermo. A short while ago I wrote to our brother and fellow bishop Victor concerning a petition from certain Jews, who complained that their synagogues and attached rooms in the city of Palermo had been unreasonably seized by him. I told him to leave their congregation alone until the facts could be established, in case their allegations turned out to be justified. Given his priestly office, I found it hard to believe he had acted improperly. But the report of Salarius, our notary who investigated on-site, confirms that there was no reasonable basis for the seizure, and that the synagogues were rashly and unwisely consecrated [as Christian churches]. Here is the problem: once a building has been consecrated, it cannot be returned to the Jews. So here is the solution. Have our brother the bishop pay fair market value for the synagogues, their attached rooms, and the adjoining gardens -- at a price determined by our sons the glorious Venantius the Patrician and Urbicus the Abbot. That way, what he seized now properly belongs to the Church, and the Jews are not oppressed or treated unjustly. Also, any books or religious objects taken from the synagogues must be located. If any have clearly been removed, they are to be returned without question. The principle is this: the Jews may not do anything in their synagogues beyond what the law allows -- I have already stated this clearly. But neither may they be subjected to financial harm or injustice. Both sides of that principle must be upheld.

Book IX, Letter 55 To Fantinus, Guardian (Defensorem), of Panormus (Palermo). Gregory to Fantinus, etc. A little time ago we wrote to Victor, our brother and fellow bishop, that — inasmuch as certain of the Jews have complained in a petition presented to us that synagogues with their -chambers, situated in the city of Panormus, had by him been unreasonably taken possession of — he should keep aloof from their congregation until it could be ascertained whether this thing had been justly done, lest perchance injury should appear to have been alleged by them of their own mere will. And indeed, having regard to his priestly office, we could not easily believe that our aforesaid brother had done anything unsuitably. But, since we find from the report of Salarius, our notary, who was afterwards there, that there had been no reasonable cause for taking possession of those synagogues, and that they had been unadvisedly and rashly consecrated, we therefore enjoin your Experience, since what has been once consecrated cannot any more be restored to the Jews, that it be your care to see that our aforesaid brother and fellow bishop pay the price at which our sons, the glorious Venantius the Patrician, and Urbicus the Abbot, may value the synagogues themselves with the -chambers that are under them or annexed to their walls, and the gardens thereto adjoining; that so what he has caused to be taken possession of may belong to the Church, and they may in no way be oppressed, or suffer any injustice. Moreover, let books or ornaments that have been abstracted be in like manner sought for. And, if any have been manifestly taken away, we desire them also to be restored without any ambiguity. For, as there ought to be no licence for them, as we have ourselves already written, to do anything in their synagogues beyond what is decreed by law, so neither damage nor any cost ought to be brought upon them contrary to justice and equity. 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/360209055.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.