Optatus: Against the Donatists

Optatus, Bishop of Milevis in North Africa in the late fourth century, wrote a detailed refutation of Donatist claims to be the one and true righteous church and their accusations towards the Catholic church in North Africa of treachery and collaboration with the Romans in the persecution of the Donatists. Optatus provided a dossier of Roman official documents to support his case that the Donatists were responsible for the discord and collaborated also. He preceded Augustine in arguing that the unworthiness of the minister does not invalidate the sacrament and appealed for negotiation and unity.