COMITIA CURIATA SESSION XVII CALLED TO ORDER

I would like to add the item – Review of all provisional sacerdotes and augures.

Thank you warmly.

Senator Camillus, with all due respect, this is a complete waste of time. The Roman priesthoods will be reformed. We are on the verge of founding the collegium Pontificum due to efforts of Censor Varro.

Though the Collegium Pontificum we can create the mechanism by which we can hold sacerdotes accountable when they break their promises to us and the gods. I have had a talk with Censor Varro, who is also one of the most advanced minds on the CDR. He has agreed to present a bill for the reorganization of the Roman priesthoods once the collegium Pontificum is founded. Therefore, I am requesting that you just forget about this anti-sacerdote campaign. This is the most logical course of action.

Please do not pass judgment until you have reached out to those citizens who volunteered for a position of leadership in the CDR.

Quintus Furius Camillus wrote:

SALVETE! The priesthood in ancient Rome was not a profession, but an additional obligation imposed on the Roman citizen by choice. He was called to take part in the public rites; he had to render service to protect the community.The priest’s role is thus one of voluntary public importance, where the safety of the civitas is concerned. Sadly, a lot of people, especially priests in the Respublica, seem to think that a priest is just supposed to sign up and that is that! But in my opinion a priest should be revered as somebody who never breaks the peace with the gods. They are placed so high up in society because they are supposed to be someone that can really make or break the peace between all realms including our own and the divine. I am here today to argue for why I think none of our provisional sacerdotes are deserving of any recognition. To start off, priests are supposed to be the keepers of the religion of Rome. They were people that received their place in society because of their great understanding and knowledge about the gods. In ancient times those few who were able to get this position were actually true people with real knowledge who deserved to be recognized, but now that the Roman religion is not the same as it used to be just about anybody can assume the title of sacerdos. They often don’t even know how to perform a traditional Roman sacrifice! So why should this title even exist? Does it not shame our ancestors who held this task in high regard? The moral idea behind the CDR says it shouldn’t exist right now. Has a single sacerdos showed up to do a public rite, save maybe Brutus on a very occasional basis. The shame is that many, if not most priests, don’t know what they are doing. The leaders of our cults are men and women who got their status through doing NOTHING! Disgusting. Sacerdotes are supposed to be the only ones who can sacrifice on the behalf of us all, and if they aren’t performing their duties correctly then they should not be recognized at all. I would like to see a time where our rulers actually respected the Roman gods rather than trying to fill empty roles. I propose immediately removing the sacerdote role from all citizens. Then sacrifice to the gods asking for their understanding and forgiveness of our error in ever appointing such people as priests. Do not reestablish this role until one has demonstrated both the correct knowledge and commitment to the job! Do not play with the pax deorum! If you agree with me please put your name down below. Show the CC what the will of the people is! VALETE!

SALVETE!

I strongly disagree with any tameness on this question shown by these so-called leaders. I am not naming names here – but there are many who will disagree with the points put forward. Pax deorum continues to be breached if the priesthood is reformed sometime in the distant future. Unacceptable.

I also bring forth my personal experience with this question as well. I am cultor. I learned on my own how to honor the gods. I am not a priest. But I serve the gods. But I don’t do it for myself, I did it for all of us as a past Consul and magistrate. I respected this role, and cherished it! Pax deorum is not protected if the priesthood is not reformed immediately – and this means you reading this, as a citizen, offends the gods too, simply by your association with a Rome with lame-duck sacerdotes being tolerated!

Yes, there was a time when we weren’t so cautious about who we chose to serve and how, but that has changed because of the previous scrutiny about how things were done in the past. Those days have passed. We know better now. People will argue about the type of priesthood we need – and we always make a solid argument that we need reform. But once you reform the priesthood, then there won’t be any argument. It will just happen. So reform it now!

I bring this forward because I know that many of you have been working for years to try and improve our sacra publica – but without change. We need to take action now. This is a matter of grave importance – not something simply for academic debate. This is not something that should simply be written off as someone else’s beliefs – or even as an attack within the realm of Roman politics. This is about the protection and recognition of our community by the very gods it was created to honor!

VALETE!