Letter 7
Hilary, bishop of Rome, to Ascanius of Tarragona, greetings.
Your report on the cases referred to us from the province of Tarraconensis has been received and we respond to each point.
On the case of the priest Silvanus and his claim to have been properly ordained to the see in question: we have reviewed the evidence you presented and we find that the ordination was not conducted in accordance with the canonical requirements. The metropolitan was not consulted and did not participate. The clergy of the diocese were not given the opportunity for proper participation. Whatever Silvanus's personal qualities, the manner of his ordination is canonically defective and requires remediation.
On the case of the disputed revenues of the diocese of [name]: the practice of the revenues in question predates the current bishop and has been recognized as legitimate by previous bishops of the province. We see no grounds for altering this established arrangement.
On the question of the bishop who performed ordinations outside his own territory: this is a clear violation of canonical boundaries. He is to be corrected by his metropolitan and required to refrain from such actions in future. If he refuses correction, the matter is to be referred to us.
We ask that these determinations be communicated to all the bishops of the province.
Hilary, bishop of Rome
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.