Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume XIV/Additional Canons 3/The Canons of Carthage/Canons/Canon XXIX

Canon XXIX.&#160; (Greek xxxii.)

If anyone who is excommunicated shall receive communion before his cause is heard he brings damnation on himself.

it pleased the whole Council that he who shall have been excommunicated for any neglect, whether he be bishop, or any other cleric, and shall have presumed while still under sentence, and his cause not yet heard, to receive communion, he shall be considered by so doing to have given sentence against himself.

Notes.

One excommunicate who shall communicate before absolution sentences himself.

This canon seems to be founded upon Canon iv. of Antioch.

See ''Can. Ap., 21 (29), Antioch'', 4.

By this canon the criminous bishop is supposed to be excommunicated before he comes to have his cause heard by a Synod, or by 12 neighbouring bishops:&#160; and it is therefore most rational to believe that he was thus censured by his Primate.&#160; See Can. Afr., 12.