Quote from Letter 9.108 to Chrysantus, bishop of Spoleto. February 599
Since it is the nature of discipline to prohibit men from illegal acts and to remove sins for one's benefit, the severity of discipline should be keenly preserved.
For if it is neglected, then everything becomes confused, when one destroys what another builds up and protects.
Thus, the priest Valentinus has complained to us that, if a monk of that monastery is deprived of communion due to his sinfulness, he can move to your district and receive communion without any reservation.
But if that is how things are, not only is law and order being undermined, but also from this the material of perdition is supplied. It is necessary, therefore, for you to ban the priests who are under you, strictly and quite carefully, from presuming to do this from now on.
Since it is the nature of discipline to prohibit men from illegal acts and to remove sins for one's benefit, the severity of discipline should be keenly preserved.
For if it is neglected, then everything becomes confused, when one destroys what another builds up and protects.
Thus, the priest Valentinus has complained to us that, if a monk of that monastery is deprived of communion due to his sinfulness, he can move to your district and receive communion without any reservation.
But if that is how things are, not only is law and order being undermined, but also from this the material of perdition is supplied. It is necessary, therefore, for you to ban the priests who are under you, strictly and quite carefully, from presuming to do this from now on.
Cited from: The Letters of Gregory the Great, trans. John R.C. Martyn (Toronto: PIMS, 2004), II, 607
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