THE CATHOLICS, Part 2 of Chapter 11 of Holy Priesthood Volume 4

THE CATHOLICS, Part 2 of Chapter 11 of Holy Priesthood Volume 4

Pages 110 to 120

http://ogdenkraut.com/?page_id=126

Around the year 400 A.D. restrictions increased for persons who wanted to become members of the priestly offices. Schaff reports:

Catechumens, neophytes, persons baptized at the point of death, penitents, energumens (such as were possessed of a devil), actors, dancers, soldiers, curials (court, state, and municipal officials), slaves, eunuchs, bigamists, and all who led a scandalous life after baptism, were debarred from ordination. The frequenting of taverns and theatres, dancing and gambling, usury and the pursuit of secular business were forbidden to clergymen. (Hist. of the Christian Church, Schaff, 3:256)