Chapter II: Of the Subject of Sacred Ordination

§ 1. Only a baptized male validly receives sacred ordination; licitly, however, he receives it who, according to the norm of the sacred canons, in the judgment of his proper Ordinary, is furnished with the due qualities and is detained by no irregularity or other impediment.

§ 2. Those who are detained by an irregularity or other impediment, although it arises after ordination even without their own fault, are prohibited from exercising the orders received.

§ 1. No one from the seculars is to be ordained who, in the judgment of his proper Bishop, is not necessary or useful to the churches of the diocese.

§ 2. Nevertheless a Bishop is not prohibited from promoting his own subject who in the future, with legitimate excardination and incardination having preceded, is destined to the service of another diocese.

The proper Bishop or major religious Superior can, for any canonical cause, even occult, also extrajudicially, forbid his clerics ascent to orders, with the right of recourse to the Holy See preserved, or even to the Moderator general if there is question of religious whose ascent a provincial Superior has forbidden.

It is a grave wrong to compel anyone in any way, for any reason whatever, to the clerical state, or to turn away from the same one who is canonically suitable.

§ 1. Care is to be taken that those aspiring to sacred orders be received in a Seminary from tender years; but all are bound to dwell there at least through the whole course of sacred theology, unless the Ordinary in particular cases, for a grave cause and with his conscience burdened, has dispensed.

§ 2. Those who aspire to orders and legitimately dwell outside the Seminary are to be commended to a pious and suitable priest, who is to watch over them and form them to piety.