The second Council of Orleans.
THis Council was assembled at Orleans, by the Order of the Kings of France, Childebert and his Brethren, on the 23th day of June in the Year 533. It was compos'd of six and twenty Bi∣shops or Archbishops of France, and five Priests deputed from other Bishops. The following Canons were made in it, which are nothing but the old ones renew'd.
The first is, That the Bishop being invited by his Metropolitan to be present at the Ordination of a Bishop, shall not fail to be there without a lawful Excuse.
The second, That the Metropolitan shall call every year their Suffragans to a Council.
The third, That the Bishops shall take nothing for Ordinations, nor for any other Office of the E∣piscopal Function.
The fourth, That he shall be turn'd out, who gets himself ordain'd for Money.
The fifth, That the Bishop's shall never refuse to go for the Burial of their Brethren, and that they shall take nothing but what is necessary to defray their Expences.
The sixth, That the Bishop who comes to Inter his Brother, shall go into the Episcopal House with the Priests, and that he shall cause an Inventory to be made in their Presence of what is there found, leaving it with some Persons whom he can trust, to keep it.
The seventh, That the Metropolitan chosen by the Bishops of the Province, by the Clergy and the People of the City, shall be ordain'd by the Bishops of the Province.
The eighth, That a Deacon who is married, being in Captivity, cannot be restor'd to his Mini∣stry.
The ninth, That no Priest shall dwell with Seculars without the leave of the Bishop.
The tenth, That no Man shall marry his Step-mother.
The eleventh, That Marriages lawfully contracted cannot be dissolv'd by the will of the Parties joyn'd, whatsoever Infirmity they alledge.
The twelfth, That no Person shall perform the Vow which he has made of singing and feasting in the Church, because God is rather provoked then pacified by these Vows.
The thirteenth, That the Abbots, Chaplains, Recluse Monks, and Priests, dare not grant Let∣ters Dimissory to Clergy-men.
The fourteenth, That Clergy-men who do not their Duty, or come not to Church, shall be de∣priv'd of their Dignity.
The fifteenth, That the Oblations of the Dead shall be receiv'd, altho they were kill'd in the Commission of some Crime, except those who kill themselves.
The sixteenth, That none shall be ordain'd Priest or Deacon, who is not well instructed, and does not know how to administer Baptism.
The seventeenth, That Women who have receiv'd the Benediction given to Deacons, contrary to the Canons, shall be turn'd out of Communion, if it be prov'd that they marry: Nevertheless, if upon the Bishop's Admonition they cease to cohabit with their Husband, they shall be receiv'd into Communion, after they have done Penance.