[Title according to cod. R] II. [What to do] if a levite or a presbyter gives oneself over to begetting children.

[Title according to codd. A, Q, and S] II. On the ordained who beget.

 

Although it was constituted by our fathers with all authority, that any priest or a levite [i.e. deacon] convicted of giving oneself over to begetting children should be banned from the sunday communion, we, however, easing the strictness and softening the just ordinance, decree that a priest or a levite who fell into marital desire or did not cease begetting children, should not dare to ascend to a higher rank, nor offer sacrifice to God, nor minister to the people. Let it be sufficient for them that they will not be banned from the communion. But in order for them to be strong enough to observe those precepts, the source of all vices should be cut off, according to the teaching of the Apostle: "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess" [Eph. 5:18]. And with what great penance drunkenness must be atoned for, this was revealed by the apostolic doctrine, saying among others: "neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor drunkards shall inherit the Kingdom of God" [I Cor. 6:9-10]. Indeed, if anyone of whatever clerical status, being a soldier of God, does not abstain from drunkenness, he will be punished according to the status of his rank.

 

(trans. J. Szafranowski)