Source: http://www.clsadb.com/document/82164516-40b7-4270-bc78-1b86793fa48b
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 23:02:31+00:00

Document:
Congregation for the Clergy, Circular letter on special faculties of the Congregation for the Clergy, 18 April 2009.
Last Jan. 30 the supreme pontiff granted certain special faculties to this congregation. The purpose of this circular letter is to present these faculties to all ordinaries so that the reasoning behind them and the ends which they seek to accomplish are clearly understood in the manner in which they were originally intended.
The congregation was moved to write this letter to the most reverend ordinaries by virtue of its ardent desire to honor the mission and person of those priests who, faithful to their authentic priestly identity and mission, think, act and live in a counter-cultural manner in this heavily secularized moment in history, as well as to assist the successors of the apostles in their daily task of preserving and promoting ecclesiastical discipline for the benefit of the entire body of believers.
Therefore, priests are called to continue the presence of Christ, the one high priest, embodying his way of life and making him visible in the midst of the flock entrusted to their care:5 This is the true source of strength for every pastoral vocation, which is constituted by the lived coherent testimony of one's consecration, nourished by prayer and penitence.
“§1. Clerics are obliged to observe perfect and perpetual continence for the sake of the kingdom of heaven and therefore are bound to celibacy, which is a special gift of God by which sacred ministers can adhere more easily to Christ with an undivided heart and are able to dedicate themselves more freely to the service of God and humanity.
“§2. Clerics are to behave with due prudence toward persons whose company can endanger their obligation to observe continence or give rise to scandal among the faithful.
Certainly the bond of subordination between priests and the bishop concerns the area of the exercise of their proper ministry, which they must exercise in hierarchical communion with their own bishop. The relationship which exists between the bishop and his priests cannot, in its canonical aspects, be reduced either to the relationship of hierarchic subordination of public law in the juridical system or to a dependent relationship of an employer to an employee.11 It is not uncommon to find in society those who, misunderstanding the sacramental relationship of the bishop to priest, mistakenly perceive it as the same as that which exists between a director of business and his workforce.
In this type of situation, “since he must protect the unity of the universal church, a bishop is bound to promote the common discipline of the whole church and therefore to urge the observance of all ecclesiastical laws” (c. 392, §1), and he must be vigilant lest abuses insinuate themselves into ecclesiastical discipline (cf. c. 392, §2).
“(b) The bishop should observe and require others to observe the procedural norms established for the exercise of judicial power, since he recognizes that these rules are no mere formality, still less an obstacle to be circumvented but are a necessary means for establishing the facts and for administering justice (cf. cc. 135, §3 and 391).
“(c) If he receives notice of behavior which gravely damages the common good of the church, the bishop should investigate with discretion, either by himself or through a delegate, the facts and the imputability of the accused (cf. c. 1717). When he judges that he has assembled sufficient proof of the facts which gave rise to the scandal, he should proceed formally to correct or admonish the accused (cf. cc. 1339-1340). Yet when this does not suffice to repair the scandal, restore justice and bring about the rehabilitation of the person, the bishop should proceed with the imposition of penalties, which may be applied in either of two ways (cf. cc. 1341 and 1718).
“By means of a regular penal process in a case for which canon law requires it, given the gravity of the penalty, or when the bishop judges it more prudent (cf. c. 1721).
5. However, one must acknowledge that situations of grave lack of discipline on the part of some clergy have occurred in which the attempts to resolve the problems by the pastoral and canonical means foreseen in the Code of Canon Law are shown to be insufficient or unsuitable to repair scandal, to restore justice or to reform the offender (cf. c. 1341).
I. The special faculty to treat and present to the Holy Father, for his approval in forma specifica and his decision, cases of dismissal from the clerical state in poenam with dispensation from the obligations consequent to ordination, including that of celibacy, of clerics who have attempted marriage, even if only civilly, and who, having been admonished, have not withdrawn from this state, therefore persisting in an irregular and scandalous life (cf. c. 1394, §1); and of clerics guilty of grave sins against the Sixth Commandment (cf. c. 1395, §§1-2).
II. The special faculty to intervene in accord with Canon 1399, either by taking direct action in a case or by confirming the decisions of ordinaries, were the competent ordinary so to request, due to the special gravity of the violation of law and the need or urgency to avoid an objective scandal.
III. The special faculty to handle cases of clerics who having freely abandoned the ministry for a period of more than five consecutive years and who, after careful verification of the facts insofar as this is possible, persist in such freely chosen and illicit absence from the ministry, taking this situation into account, to declare then their dismissal from the clerical state, with dispensation from the obligations consequent to ordination, including that of celibacy.
Once the necessary conditions are present, if a prelate deems it appropriate to avail himself of the foregoing faculties, he should be aware of the following information and procedures.
- Attempt marriage, even civilly and, having been warned, have not withdrawn from this state but instead have persevered in their irregular and scandalous conduct (cf. c. 1394, §1).
- Live in concubinage and commit other grave delicts against the Sixth Commandment of the Decalogue (cf. c. 1395, §§1-2) and who do not demonstrate any sign of mending their ways despite repeated warnings nor show any intention to request the dispensation from the obligations arising from sacred ordination.
Often in such cases the penalty of “suspension” and of irregularity, in the sense of Canon 1044, §1, 3°,16 have not been demonstrated to be sufficiently effective or suitable to repair the scandal caused, to restore justice and to reform the offender (cf. c. 1341). In fact, only through dismissal from the clerical state, according to the norm of Canon 292, would the cleric also lose the rights pertaining thereto and would no longer be bound by any obligations of that state.
Handle and present to the Holy Father, for his approval in forma specifica and decision, cases of dismissal from the clerical state in poenam with the consequent dispensation from the obligations consequent to ordination, including that of celibacy, of clerics who have attempted marriage, even if only civilly, and who, having been admonished, have not withdrawn from this state, therefore persisting in an irregular and scandalous life (cf. c. 1394, §1); and of clerics guilty of grave sins against the Sixth Commandment (cf. c. 1395, §§1-2).
Such cases must be instructed by means of a legitimate administrative process, always ensuring the right of defense.
1° The accused is notified of the accusations alleged against him and of the relevant proofs, giving him the opportunity to produce a defense unless, having been legitimately cited, he has neglected to make himself available.
2° A careful examination is carried out, with the help of two assessors (cf. c. 1424), of all the proofs and the elements that have been gathered as well as of the defense presented by the accused.
3° A decree is issued, according to the provisions of Canons 1344-1350, if there be no doubts about the delict having been committed, and the criminal action has not become extinct according to the provisions of Canon 1362. The decree, issued according to the norm of Canons 35-38, must contain the reasons motivating it and have expounded therein, even if only in summary fashion, the reasons in law and in fact pertaining to the particular situation.
7. Moreover, it must always be shown that a situation exists in which discipline has been gravely breached by the cleric, and every attempt to resolve the problem through the pastoral and canonical measures already provided in the Code of Canon Law have not brought about a positive result, and no end is foreseen to this situation, thus causing grave scandal to the faithful and damaging the common good of the church and her spiritual mission.
In such circumstances, ordinaries have often requested direct action from the Apostolic See or have asked that their decisions be confirmed in order to deal with these matters with greater efficacy and authority, sometimes even seeking the imposition of perpetual sanctions, not excluding dismissal from the clerical state, should the particular circumstances of a case require it.
Therefore, His Holiness has deigned to concede to the Congregation for the Clergy the special faculty to intervene in accord with Canon 1399, either by taking direct action in a case or by confirming the decisions of ordinaries, were the competent ordinary to so request, due to the special gravity of the violation of law and the need or urgency to avoid an objective scandal.
This is granted along with the derogation from the prescriptions of Canons 1317, 1319, 1342, §2 and 1349, with respect to the application of perpetual penalties, to be applied to deacons only for grave reasons and to priests for the gravest reasons, always requiring that such cases are presented to the Holy Father for his approval in forma specifica and his decision.
This provides the special faculty of intervening according to the sense of Canon 1399, either by the dicastery acting directly itself or by confirming the decisions of ordinaries, whenever the competent ordinary should request this, in order to apply a just penalty or penance for an external violation of divine or canon law. In truly exceptional and urgent cases, when the offender has no intention to amend his ways, sometimes even perpetual penalties may be imposed.
8. This congregation has experience of cases of priests and deacons who have abandoned ministry for a prolonged and continuous time. In these cases, after verifying the circumstances insofar as possible, the persistence of such an illicit and voluntary absence from ministry is ascertained, it was decided that the intervention of the Holy See would guarantee order in the ecclesiastical society and would preserve the faithful from falling into error communis (cf. c. 144) regarding the validity of the sacraments.
Handle the cases of clerics who have abandoned the ministry by personal choice for a period of more than five consecutive years and, after careful verification of the facts insofar as this is possible, persist in such voluntary and illicit absence, the dicastery, taking this objective situation into account, may declare the dismissal from the clerical state, with dispensation from the obligations consequent to ordination, including that of celibacy, for the cleric involved.
Article 1. The ordinary of incardination may request a rescript of the Apostolic See by which dismissal from the clerical state is declared, along with the related dispensations from the obligations consequent to ordination, including that of celibacy, for a cleric who has abandoned ministry for a period of longer than five consecutive years and who after careful verification of the facts, insofar as possible, persists in the voluntary and illicit absence from ministry.
Article 2, §1. The competent ordinary is that of the incardination of the cleric.
§2. The competent ordinary can entrust the instruction of such procedures either in a stable manner or on a case-by-case basis to a suitable priest from his own or another diocese.
§3. In this procedure the promoter of justice, who has a duty to protect the public good, must always be involved.
Article 3. The declaration mentioned in Article 1 can be obtained only after the competent ordinary, having completed the relevant investigation, has reached moral certainty regarding the irreversible abandonment from ministry on the part of the cleric, from either the declaration of the cleric himself and/or from the depositions of witnesses, from well-founded public knowledge or other indications.
Article 4. The notification of any of the acts must be made through the postal service or by other secure means.
Article 5. The instructor, having completed the instruction, should transmit all of the acts to the competent ordinary with his appropriate summary, expounding his votum according to the objective facts of the situation.
Article 6. The competent ordinary should transmit to the Apostolic See all of the acts together with his own votum and the observations of the promoter of justice.
Article 8. The rescript of dismissal from the clerical state, with the related dispensation from the obligations attendant upon holy orders, including that of celibacy, is transmitted from the Holy See to the competent ordinary, who will provide for making it known in an appropriate fashion.
9. After the dismissal from the clerical state, in exceptional cases, a cleric who might wish to seek rehabilitation must present that request to the Apostolic See through a benevolent bishop.
The sincere desire of this congregation is that each ordinary may, in a truly paternal fashion and in a spirit of pastoral charity, undertake to ensure that his most valued collaborators know how to live ecclesiastical discipline as “discipleship,” with profound interior motivations, remembering that the daily exertion of “doing” is of little value if there is not the “being in Christ” as an authentic disciple.
1 Reprinted with permission from Origins 39: 6 (June 18, 2009).
2 Cf. Vatican Council II, Lumen Gentium, 10, 18, 27, 28; Presbyterorum Ordinis, 2, 6; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1538, 1576.
3 Cf. John Paul II, Pastores Dabo Vobis, 15; Catechism, 875; Congregation for the Clergy, Pontifical Council for the Laity, Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Congregation for Bishops, Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts, "Instruction on Certain Question Regarding the Collaboration of the Non-ordained Faithful in the Sacred Ministry of Priests" (August 15, 1997).
4 Pope Benedict XVI, address to March 16, 2009, clergy congregation general assembly.
5 Cf. Pastores Dabo Vobis, 15.
7 Ibid.; cf. Presbyterorum Ordinis, 16; Paul VI, Sacerdotalis Coelibatus (June 24, 1967), 14; Code of Canon Law c. 277, §1.
8 Cf. Congregation for the Clergy, Directory for the Ministry and Life of Priests (January 31, 1994).
10 Presbyterorum Ordinis, 7; John Paul II, Pastores Gregis (October 16, 2003), 47.
11 Cf. Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, "Explanatory Note: Elements to Establish the Area of Canonical Responsibility of the Diocesan Bishop Toward Clerics Incardinated Within the Diocese and Who Exercise Their Ministry Within It" (February 12, 2004): Communicationes, 36 (2004), pp. 33-38. Cf. also Congregation for the Clergy, "Declaration on Some Movements and Associations Forbidden to the Clergy" (March 8, 1982).
12 Congregation for Bishops, Directory for the Pastoral Ministry of Bishops (February 22, 2004), 44.
13 John Paul II, February 17, 1979, address to the Roman Rota: Insegnamenti de Giovanni Paolo II (1979/2), p. 412.
14 "Explanatory Note: Elements to Establish the Area of Canonical Responsibility," pp. 33-38.
15 Directory for the Pastoral Ministry of Bishops, p. 68.
16 Cf. also Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, "Declaration: Concerning the Celebration of Sacraments or Sacramentals by Priests Who Have Attempted Marriage" (May 19, 1997): Communicationes 29 (1997), pp. 17-18.
Congregation for the Clergy, Circular letter on special faculties of the Congregation for the Clergy, 18 April 2009, CLSA, Roman Replies and Advisory Opinions, 2009, 37-47.

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