Ministry and Holy Orders
Part 5 Canonical Issues
Chapter 55 Leaving the Clerical State
Preliminary QuestionsBibliography |
Theology |
To Think About |
Preliminary Questions
Bibliography
Theology
Some Offenses by
Priests to Be Judged Exclusively by Tribunal
Papal Document Focuses on Pederasty and Wrongdoing Involving Sacraments
VATICAN CITY, JAN. 8, 2002 (Zenit.org).- John
Paul II has decided that some offenses by priests involving the Eucharist, the
sacrament of reconciliation, and pederasty will be judged exclusively by the
Tribunal of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
In a document issued "motu proprio" -- that is, on his own initiative -- the
Pope outlined the rules. He signed the document, "Sacramentorum Sanctitati
Tutela" (Tutelage of the Holiness of the Sacraments), last April 30 and had it
sent to all bishops some time ago. It is recorded in the January issue of the "Acta
Apostolicae Sedis" (Acts of the Apostolic See).
The one-and-a-half page text, published in Latin, refers to a four-page document
of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
This text, signed by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the congregation,
lists four "grave offenses" of priests against the Eucharist, three against the
sacrament of reconciliation, and one against customs.
The congregation's document indicates as grave offenses ("delicta") a priest's
"taking, keeping or throwing away the Holy Species for sacrilegious ends;
committing an outrage against the liturgy of the eucharistic sacrifice or
parodying it; concelebrating with priests of ecclesial communities that do not
follow the apostolic succession or do not recognize the sacramental dignity of
priestly ordination; consecrating one of the materials [bread and wine] and not
the other for sacrilegious reasons, or consecrating both outside the eucharistic
celebration."
The same document then explains the grave offenses against the sacrament of
reconciliation: "To give absolution to someone who is an accomplice [of the
priest] in a sin against the Sixth Commandment; to invite on the occasion, at
the moment, or with the pretext of confession to sin against the Sixth
Commandment; to violate directly the secret of confession."
The Sixth Commandment is "You shall not commit adultery."
Pederasty is the crime against customs. It is a "sin against the Sixth
Commandment committed between a minor younger than 18 years, and a priest."
In virtue of these norms, issued by the congregation at the Pope's request, any
bishop or superior of a religious order or congregation who is aware of such
offenses or crimes committed by priests is obliged to "carry out investigations"
and to send the results to the Vatican congregation.
To Think About
© Copyright: Tom Richstatter, Franciscan Province of St. John the Baptist, Cincinnati Ohio, Order of Friars Minor. All Rights Reserved. This page was created by Fr. Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M. Every effort has been, and is being made, to acknowledge sources when the ideas are not my own. Any failure to comply with the United States Copyright Act (Title 17, United States Code) will be corrected immediately should I become aware of it. This site was updated on 06/29/03 . Your comments on this site are welcome at webmaster2@tomrichstatter.org.