Donatus (d 355) was Bishop of Casa Nigrae in what is now Algeria in the early years of the 4th century, when the persecution of Christians under Diocletian was at its height. During that horrible time, many Catholics saved their lives by renouncing the faith, burning incense to the gods, or turning over Church property and even the names of fellow believers to the officials. To the steadfast, these became known as traditores (traitors).
When at last Constantine brought peace to the Church in 311, the question of what to do about repentant clergy who wanted to return to the Church became paramount. The North African Church was particularly divided.
