Title VI: Of the Reduction of Clerics to the Lay State

§ 1. Although sacred ordination, once validly received, never becomes void, nevertheless a major cleric is reduced to the lay state by rescript of the Holy See, by decree or sentence according to the norm of can. 214, and finally by the penalty of degradation.

§ 2. A minor cleric returns to the lay state not only by the fact itself on account of causes described in law, but also by his own will, after the local Ordinary has been warned, or by a decree of the same Ordinary issued for a just cause, if namely the Ordinary, all things considered, has prudently judged that the cleric cannot be promoted to sacred orders with the decorum of the clerical state.

§ 1. One constituted in minor orders who has returned to the lay state for any cause whatsoever, in order to be admitted again among clerics, requires the permission of the Ordinary of the diocese to which he was incardinated by ordination; this permission is not to be granted except after a diligent examination concerning life and morals, and a suitable trial, in the judgment of that Ordinary.

§ 2. But a major cleric who has returned to the lay state, in order to be admitted again among clerics, needs the permission of the Holy See.

§ 1. All who have legitimately been reduced or have returned from the clerical state to the lay state, by that very fact lose offices, benefices, clerical rights and privileges, and are forbidden to go about in ecclesiastical dress and to wear the tonsure.

§ 2. A major cleric, however, is held by the obligation of celibacy, without prejudice to the prescription of can. 214.

§ 1. A cleric who, compelled by grave fear, received a sacred order and afterwards, once the fear was removed, did not ratify the same ordination at least tacitly through exercise of the order, while nevertheless wishing by such an act to subject himself to clerical obligations, is to be reduced to the lay state by a sentence of a judge, once the coercion and the defect of ratification have been legitimately proved, without any obligations of celibacy and of the canonical hours.

§ 2. The coercion and defect of ratification must be proved according to the norm of canons 1993-1998.