Abstract

The Conlatio Carthaginensis of 411, took place in three sessions. During the third session, the Donatist bishops requested that their Church be recognized as 'Catholic', in the sense of being Christian. Whereas Augustine argued that the present Catholic Church, wherever she is found, is that which is attested to by the divine scriptures (Gesta 3,20 and 74), the Donatists, through their spokesman Petilian, countered that theirs was the true Catholic Church, given their constancy in the true faith and catholic discipline (Gesta 3,22 and 27 and 75). Both episcopates remained tied to their respective positions; hence, the summary of the Donatist Gaudentius: «'Catholic' is not that which can referred to the whole, but that which is fully consecrated, perfect, immaculate, and, therefore, that which has nothing to do with nations» (Gesta 3,102).