Code of Canon Law: text (original) (raw)

ARTICLE 3:IRREGULARITIES AND OTHER IMPEDIMENTS

Can.1040 Those bound by an impediment are to be barred from the reception oforders. An impediment may be simple; or it may be perpetual, in which case it is called an irregularity. No impediment is contracted which is not containedin the following canons.

Can.1041 The following persons are irregular for the reception of orders:

1° one whosuffers from any form of insanity, or from any other psychological infirmity, because of which he is, after experts have been consulted, judged incapable ofbeing able to fulfil the ministry;

2° one who has committed the offence of apostasy, heresy or schism;

3° one who has attempted marriage, even a civil marriage, either while himself preventedfrom entering marriage whether by an existing marriage bond or by a sacred order or by a public and perpetual vow of chastity, or with a woman who isvalidly married or is obliged by the same vow;

4° one who has committed wilful homicide, or one who has actually procured an abortion, and all who have positively cooperated;

5° one who has gravely and maliciously mutilated himself or another, or who has attempted suicide;

6° one who has carried out an act of order which is reserved to those in the order of theepiscopate or priesthood, while himself either not possessing that order orbeing barred from its exercise by some canonical penalty, declared or imposed.

Can.1042 The following are simply impeded from receiving orders:

1° a manwho has a wife, unless he is lawfully destined for the permanent diaconate;

2° one whoexercises an office or administration forbidden to clerics, in accordance withcann. 285 and 286, of which he must render an account; the impediment bindsuntil such time as, having relinquished the office and administration andrendered the account, he has been freed;

3° aneophyte, unless, in the judgement of the Ordinary, he has been sufficiently tested.

Can.1043 Christ's faithful are bound to reveal, before ordination, to the Ordinaryor to the parish priest, such impediments to sacred orders as they may knowabout.

Can.1044 §1 The following are irregular for the exercise of orders alreadyreceived:

1° one who, while bound by an irregularity for the reception of orders, unlawfully received orders;

2° one whocommitted the offence mentioned in can. 1041, n. 2, if the offence is public

3° one whocommitted any of the offences mentioned in can. 1041, nn. 3, 4,5,6.

§2 Thefollowing are impeded from the exercise of orders:

1° one who, while bound by an impediment to the reception of orders, unlawfully received orders;

2° one whosuffers from insanity or from some other psychological infirmity mentioned in can. 1041, n. 1, until such time as the Ordinary, having consulted an expert, has allowed the exercise of the order in question.

Can.1045 Ignorance of irregularities and impediments does not exempt from them.

Can.1046 Irregularities and impediments are multiplied if they arise from different causes, not however from the repetition of the same cause, unless it is aquestion of the irregularity arising from the commission of wilful homicide or from having actually procured an abortion.

Can.1047 §1 If the fact on which they are based has been brought to the judicial forum, dispensation from all irregularities is reserved to the Apostolic Seealone.

§2 Dispensation from the following irregularities and impediments to the receptionof orders is also reserved to the Apostolic See:

1° irregularities arising from the offences mentioned in can. 1041, nn. 2 and 3, if they are public;

2° anirregularity arising from the offence, whether public or occult, mentioned in can. 1041, n. 4;

3° theimpediment mentioned in can. 1042, n. 1.

§3 To theApostolic See is also reserved the dispensation from the irregularities for theexercise of an order received mentioned in can. 1041, n.3 but only in public cases, and in n. 4 of the same canon even in occult cases.

§4 TheOrdinary can dispense from irregularities and impediments not reserved to theHoly See.

Can.1048 In the more urgent occult cases, if the Ordinary or, in the case of theirregularities mentioned in can. 1041, nn. 3 and 4, the Penitentiary cannot beapproached, and if there is imminent danger of serious harm or loss ofreputation, the person who is irregular for the exercise of an order may exercise it. There remains, however, the obligation of his having recourse assoon as possible to the Ordinary or the Penitentiary, without revealing hisname, and through a confessor.

Can.1049 §1 In a petition to obtain a dispensation from irregularities orimpediments, all irregularities and impediments are to be mentioned. However, ageneral dispensation is valid also for those omitted in good faith, with theexception of the irregularities mentioned in can. 1041, n. 4, or of others which have been brought to the judicial forum; it is not, however, valid for those concealed in bad faith.

§2 If it isquestion of an irregularity arising from wilful homicide or from a procured abortion, for the validity of the dispensation even the number of offences must be stated.

§3 Ageneral dispensation from irregularities and impediments to the reception oforders is valid for all orders.