Donatism (2)

This continues a short series on ancient heresies. The Donatists controversy was characterized by a number of other issues as well. The main issue was the question of the nature of the church. The Donatists believed that the church was made up only of those who maintained themselves free from all external blemish. Those who had lapsed had no place in the church, and especially no place in church office. Petilianus the Donatist asked rhetorically, “Whom do you teach, traditor?…How do you...