Editing Cyprian (section)

== Controversy over the lapsed ==
The persecution was especially severe at Carthage, according to Church sources. Many Christians fell away and were thereafter referred to as ''"[[Lapsi (Christianity)|Lapsi]]"'' (''fallen'').{{sfn|Benedict XVI|2008|p=52}} The majority had obtained signed statements (''libelli'') certifying that they had sacrificed to the Roman gods to avoid persecution or confiscation of property. In some cases, Christians had actually sacrificed, whether under torture or otherwise. Cyprian found those ''[[libellatici]]'' especially cowardly and demanded that they and the rest of the ''lapsi'' undergo [[public penance]] before being readmitted to the Church.

However, in Cyprian's absence, some priests disregarded his wishes by readmitting the lapsed to communion with little or no public penance. Some of the ''lapsi'' presented a second ''[[libellus]]'' purported to bear the signature of some martyr or confessor who, it was held, had the spiritual prestige to reaffirm individual Christians. That system was not limited to Carthage, but on a wider front by its charismatic nature, it clearly constituted a challenge to institutional authority in the Church, in particular to that of the bishop. Hundreds or even thousands of ''lapsi'' were readmitted that way against the express wishes of Cyprian and the majority of the Carthaginian clergy, who insisted upon earnest repentance.<ref name="CathEn" />

A schism then broke out in Carthage, as the laxist party, led largely by the priests who had opposed Cyprian's election, attempted to block measures taken by him during his period of absence. After fourteen months, Cyprian returned to the diocese and in letters addressed to the other North African bishops defended having left his post. After issuing a tract, ''"De lapsis"'' (''On the Fallen''), he convoked a council of North African bishops at Carthage to consider the treatment of the lapsed and the apparent schism of Felicissimus (251). Cyprian took a middle course between the followers of Novatus of Carthage, who were in favour of welcoming back all with little or no penance, and [[Novatian|Novatian of Rome]], who would not allow any of those who had lapsed to be reconciled.<ref name=Foley>[http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx?id=1136 Foley, Leonard O.F.M., "St. Cyprian", ''Saint of the Day'', (revised by Pat McCloskey O.F.M.), Franciscan Media]</ref> The council in the main sided with Cyprian and condemned Felicissimus though no acts of that council survive.

The schism continued as the laxists elected a certain Fortunatus as bishop in opposition to Cyprian. At the same time, the rigorist party in Rome, who refused reconciliation to any of the lapsed, elected Novatian as bishop of Rome in opposition to [[Pope Cornelius]]. The [[Novatianism|Novatianists]] also secured the election of a certain Maximus as a rival bishop of their own at Carthage. Cyprian now found himself wedged between laxists and rigorists, but the polarisation highlighted the firm but moderate position adopted by Cyprian and strengthened his influence by wearing down the numbers of his opponents. Moreover, his dedication during [[Plague of Cyprian|the time of a great plague]] and famine gained him still further popular support.<ref name=Foley/>

Cyprian comforted his brethren by writing his ''De mortalitate'' and in his ''De eleemosynis'' exhorted them to active charity towards the poor and set a personal example. He defended Christianity and the Christians in the ''[[apologetics|apologia]]'' ''Ad Demetrianum'', directed against a certain Demetrius, and countered pagan claims that Christians were the cause of the public calamities.