Various ecclesiastical laws were enacted by the Holy Apostles, with reference to priests who had been convicted of having sworn falsely, which prescribed that they should be deprived of their sacred office. The Civil Law, however, when providing for such cases, established a distinction with reference to the crime of perjury; and, where anyone was convicted of having sworn falsely in a criminal proceeding, he was dismissed from his sacred order; whereas he who had been guilty of perjury in a case where money was involved was relegated for a certain time, but was not absolutely expelled. Hence, We decree that where any priest commits perjury, either in a criminal or a civil case, he shall be expelled from the priesthood, but if he did not give his testimony under oath, when he attempted to conceal his false statements under the appearance of truth, he shall be relegated to some monastery for the term of three years, or shall be subjected to a more rigid mode of life, and after having atoned for his offence he shall be restored to his former condition.