DONATISM

WHAT IS DONATISM?

• Donatism is a heresy which questions the
• Effectiveness of sacrament administration
• In order for the sacrament to be valid,
• The priest must be completely pure and
• Of moral character.

WHO ESPOUSED THE HERESY?

• This belief was led by Donatus the Great
• He was the bishop of Casae Nigrae
• He was followed by extremist sects form North Africa

WHO REFUTED THE HERESY?

• This heresy was refuted by the Council of Arles
• (A.D. 314)

WHAT POLITICAL FACTORS INFLUENCED IT?

• Bishop Caecillin was ordained by a traditor
• This man betrayed fellow Christians during persecutions
• Donatists rejected his validity and elected a new bishop
• Constantine wanted to restore the land of the Catholic Church in North Africa
• It was confiscated during the Christian persecutions

WHAT THEOLOGICAL ISSUES DID THEY DEAL WITH?

• Christianity was suffering greatly
• Angles, Jutes, and Saxons were invading
• They pushed Christian communities to the western reaches of England

WHAT DECISIONS DID THE COUNCIL MAKE?

• Donatus was excommunicated
• It passed 22 canons which concerned:
• Easter, participation in races and gladiatorial fights,
• The rebaptism of heretics, and other matters of discipline

WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME?

• These decisions were unfavorable to Donatists
• They became enemies of the government
• After, there were many persecutions of Christians by authorities

WORK CITED

• http://unsettledchristianity.com/2010/09/donatism-council-of-arles/
• http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/dictionary/index.cfm?id=3320...
• http://www.qhpress.org/essays/arles.html
• Textbook- The History of the Church