A Concern For Priests

Porro filii Heli, divina sacrificia temerantes, peccabant coram Domino, et deridebant per eos multi sacrificium Dei. Unde et Heli sacerdos pro eorum iniquitate damnatus est, quod eos peccantes minus severa animadversione plectebat. Miserum me! et quidem coercuit, et quidemn corripuit, sed lenitate et mansuetudine patris, non auctoritate et severitate pontificis. Qua sententia discant sacerdotes quomodo ipsi propter peccata filiorum, id est, propter scelera populi puniantur. Et quamvis sancti sint, culpa tamen subditorum eisdem, si non coerceant. Sanctus Isidorus Hispalensis,Mysticorum Expositiones Sacramentorum Seu Quaestiones In Vetus Testamentum, In Regnum I, Caput I Source: Migne PL 83.393

However, the sons of Heli, defiling the Divine sacrifices, sinned before the Lord, and because of them many mocked the sacrifices of God. Whence even Heli the priest was condemned for their iniquity, those sinning being struck with a less severe punishment. Wretched me! Certainly he admonished and he corrected, but with the mercy and meekness of a father, not with the authority and discipline of a priest. 1 Which lesson let priests learn who on account of the sins of their children, that is on account of the errors of the people, shall be punished. Though they be holy, the fault of those under their care shall be attributed to them, if they do not restrain it. Saint Isidore of Seville, Expositions of Sacred Mysteries or Questions on the Old Testament, On 1 Kings, Chap 1 1 1 Kings 2-4