171. A Parish Priest Illegitimately Assisting at Marriage

From the Council of Trent, s. 24, C. 1, de R. M., I. M. 1235: "If any parish priest... shall have dared to join in marriage spouses of another parish without the permission of their parish priest... by the law itself let him remain suspended for so long until he is absolved by the Ordinary of that parish priest, etc." Whether is this suspension a mere penalty, or a true censure?

R. It would be a mere penalty if it were at will. But this formula, "let him remain suspended for so long until he is absolved by the Ordinary, etc.," signifies in the obvious sense only that the absolution of this suspension is reserved to this Ordinary when the delinquent has repented. Wherefore it seems that this suspension is a true censure, but reserved.