Doubt — Bontempi, Palladium Theologicum V · from Schola Thomistica
Doubt V: On the causes excusing from restitution on the part of the public authority
THREE causes are enumerated from this chapter as excusing.
De causis excusantibus a Restitutione ex parte publicae potestatis.
TRES causae ex hoc capite enumerantur excusantes.
The FIRST is the authority of the public power, granting something to someone by law itself, as in prescriptions, e. g.; but not merely permitting the possession of a thing with impunity, as Medina noted most excellently, quaest. 1. causa 7. Tanner. n. 440. infra, Valentia quaest. 6 punct. 8. Whence it comes about that, although the laws in contracts permit deception that does not exceed half the just price (as appears in L. Item in pretio, §. sin. ff. locati,), nevertheless in the forum of conscience he must restore who has deceived another even within half the just price.
PRIMA est authoritas publicae potestatis, ipso iure aliquid tribuentis alicui, ut in praescriptionibus, v. g. non autem solum impune permittentis possessionem rei, sicut optime adnotavit Medina quaest. 1. causa 7. Tanner. n. 440. infra, Valentia quaest. 6 punct. 8. Unde fit, ut, quamvis leges in contractibus permittant deceptionem, quae ultra dimidium iusti pretii non sit (ut patet L. Item in pretio, §. sin. ff. locati,) tamen debet in foro conscientiae restituere ei, qui alterum infra dimidium quoque iusti pretii deceperit.
The SECOND cause is the authority of the public power adjudicating a thing to someone by a judicial sentence. See Medina causa 7. Valentia disp. 5. quaest. 4 puncto 2.
SECUNDA causa est authoritas publicae potestatis per sententiam iudicialem, alicui rem inre adiudicans. Vide Medinam causa 7. Valentiam disp. 5. quaest. 4 puncto 2.
The THIRD cause is the authority of the supreme Ecclesiastical power, when the Pontiff, for a just cause, by a Bull of composition remits to someone a certain part of uncertain goods to be restored, provided he contribute a certain part of them to pious uses of the Church, according to what Medina teaches on this matter, said q. 3. and q. 11. Sotus Lib. 4. de Iust. quaest. 7. art. 1. ad 3. Navar. man. cap. 17. num. 91. Valentia loco cit. Tanner. disput. 4. quaest. 6. num. 444. Bassaeus, V. Restit. 5. num. 13.
TERTIA causa est authoritas summa Ecclesiastica, cum Pontifex iusta de causa, per Bullam compositionis, remittit alicui partem aliquam bonorum incertorum restituendorum, modo in pios Ecclesiae usus contribuat certam aliquam eorum partem, iuxta ea, quae de hac re tradunt Medina dicta q. 3. et q. 11. Sotus Lib. 4. de Iust. quaest. 7. art. 1. ad 3. Navar. man. cap. 17. num. 91. Valentia loco cit. Tanner. disput. 4. quaest. 6. num. 444. Bassaeus, V. Restit. 5. num. 13.