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X THE APOCRYPHAL CANONS IN WHICH THOSE WHO TRUST ARE COMPLETELY DECEIVED Since in the sacred canons there are some sad things discovered in which lost men trust in vain presumption, weadd some ofthem here to demonstrate clearly that not only they but all others like them are false and entirely apocryphal, wherever they might be found. For among other things it is said: (1) "A priest without the vow of a monk who sins with a young girl or a prostitute shall do penance for two years, and during the three lents, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, always on dry bread."48 (2) "If with a female servant of God or with a male, a fast is added, that is, five years if it is habitual."49 (3) "Similarly deacons, if they are not monks, two years, just like monks who are without rank."50 48 See Ryan, Damiani (29, text 18), for Damian's immediate source in Burchard , Decretum 17. 39 (PL 140, 926C-27D). Burchard'stext resembles the Penitential of Egbert but is most probablyfrom a text belonging to the samefamily as the penitential edited by B. Albers in "Wann sind die Beda-Egbert'schen Bussbiicher verfasst worden und wer ist ihr Verfasser?," Archivfur katholisches Kirchenrecht 81 (1901), 393-420 (see pp. 407-409). In the penitential selections which follow I simply note the reference in Burchard and point out any divergence in Damian's text from Burchard as printed in PL 140. In the present selectionBurchard's penance is three years and he has "dry food" while Damian has "dry bread." 49 See Burchard, 17.39 (PL 140, 926D), "seven years." 50 See Burchard, 17.39 (PL 140, 926C). 49 50 Book of Gomorrah A little further on it is added: (4) "A cleric without the vow of a monk who fornicates with a young girl shall do penance for half a year; likewise if he is a canon; if frequently, for two years."51 (5) "Again, if anyone has sinned as the Sodomites, some say ten years penance; if he is in the habit, more must be added; if he has ecclesiastical rank, he is to be degraded and do penance as a lay ,,ro person. (6) "A man who commits femoral fornication shall do penance for one year; if he repeats it, two years."53 (7) "However, if he commits anal fornication, he shall do penance for three years; if he is a boy, two years."54 (8) "If he fornicates with an animal or a mule he shall do penance for ten years."55 (9) "Again a bishop sinning with an animal shall do penance for ten years and lose his rank; a priest, five years; a deacon, three years; a cleric, two years."56 Many other deceptive and sacrilegious items are found inserted in the sacred canons through the wiles of the devil which we are more willing to erase than to write down, more ready to spit upon than to impress such vain derisions on paper. But see, carnal men trust in this nonsense; they believe in them as though in the portents of dreams and delude themselves in the security of a vain hope. However, let us see whether they agree with canonical authority and whether I might learn if they are to be upheld or avoided, not somuch in words as in attesting deeds. 51 Damian differs considerably from Burchard here. See Burchard, 17.39 (PL 140, 926D): "A cleric without the vow of amonk, if he fornicateswith such a young girl, shall do penance for one year; if frequently, for two years. If with acanoness, for two years; if frequently, for three years." 52 See Burchard, 17.39 (PL140, 926D). 53 Ibid. (PL 140, 927A). 54 Ibid. 55 Ibid. 56 Ibid. 52 ...

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