Letter 4

From: Pope Hilary, bishop of Rome To: The bishops of Spain Date: ~465 AD Context: Hilary issues a general letter to the Spanish bishops following the Roman synod of 465, communicating the synod's decisions on church discipline and ecclesiastical procedure. Hilary, bishop of Rome, to all our beloved brothers the bishops throughout Spain, greetings. The holy synod that assembled at Rome under our presidency has addressed several questions of church discipline that we now communicate to you for implementation. On the matter of episcopal elections: the procedures we have previously communicated are to be observed without exception. No bishop is to be ordained without the participation of the clergy and people of the diocese, the supervision of the metropolitan, and our confirmation when the case is referred to this apostolic see. On the matter of clerics who abandon their ministry: a deacon or priest who leaves his ministry without canonical permission and without urgent cause is to be received back only after a period of public penance proportionate to the length of his absence. This applies even when the cleric in question has subsequently married, though the specific circumstances of each case are to be considered by the relevant bishop. On the matter of the division of ecclesiastical revenues: the established practice of dividing revenues into portions designated for the bishop, the clergy, the maintenance of the building, and the care of the poor is to be observed consistently in all dioceses. These determinations are issued with the authority of the Roman synod. Hilary, bishop of Rome