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 shall 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 cathedræ. 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.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon CXXIV.
Whoso says that a man, whom he knows does not communicate, does communicate is to be deprived of his episcopate.
This is Canon xvj. of Carthage, a.d. 418.
Canon CXXV. (Greek cxxvi.)
That presbyters and clerics are not to appeal except to African Synods.
Item, it seemed good that presbyters, deacons, or other of the lower clergy who are to be tried, if they question the decision of their bishops, the neighbouring bishops having been invited by them with the consent of their bishops, shall hear them and determine whatever separates them. But should they think an appeal should be carried from them, let them not carry the appeal except to African councils or to the primates of their provinces. But whoso shall think of carrying an appeal across seas he shall be admitted to communion by no one in Africa.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon CXXV.
A presbyter and deacons, who has been condemned by his own bishop, let him appeal to the neighbouring bishops: but let them not cross the sea. In Africa they shall be excommunicated.
This is Canon xvij. of Carthage, a.d. 418.
Johnson.
A repetition of Canon 28 (31).
Canon CXXVI. (Greek cxxvii.)
That Virgins, even when minors, should be given the veil.
Item, it seemed good that whatever bishop, by the necessity of the dangers of virginal purity, when either a powerful suitor or some ravisher is feared, or if she shall be pricked with some scruple of death that she might die unveiled, at the demand either of her parents or of those to whose care she has been entrusted, shall give the veil to a virgin, or shall have given it while she was under twenty-five years of age, the council which has appointed that number of years shall not oppose him.
Notes.
Ancient Epitome of Canon CXXVI.
Whosoever has veiled or shall veil a virgin before she is twenty-five years of age (that is give her the habit, or clothe her), being forced thereto on account of a powerful lover, or a ravisher, or deadly disease, provided those who have the charge of her so exhort, shall receive no damage from the synod concerning that age.
This is Canon xviij. of Carthage, a.d. 418. The reference to a former canon is to Canon j. of the second series of the canons of the Synod of Hippo in a.d. 393.