Article — 1917 Code of Canon Law
Article III: Of the Oath of Witnesses
Superseded as law in 1983 — read why this Code still matters. Each canon links to its 1983 counterpart.
§ 1. Before he gives testimony, a witness must render an oath concerning telling the whole and sole truth, with the prescription of can. 1758 saved.
§ 2. The parties or their procurators can be present at the rendering of the oath of witnesses, with the prescription of can. 1763 saved.
§ 3. If there is question of the merely private right of the parties, the oath can be remitted to witnesses, with both parties consenting.
§ 4. But even when the oath is not exacted from a witness, the judge is to admonish the witness concerning the grave obligation by which he is always bound of telling the truth.
§ 1. Testis, antequam testimonium edat, iusiurandum praestare debet de tota ac sola veritate dicenda, salvo praescripto can. 1758.
§ 2. Partes earumve procuratores praestationi iurisiurandi testium assistere possunt, salvo praescripto can. 1763.
§ 3. Testibus, si de iure partium mere privato agatur, poterit iusiurandum, utraque parte consentiente, remitti.
§ 4. Sed etiam cum iusiurandum a teste non exigitur, iudex testem commonefaciat gravis obligationis, qua semper tenetur, veritatem dicendi.
1983 Code correlation: can. 1562
Witnesses, although they have rendered an oath concerning telling the truth, can nevertheless, according to the prudent judgment of the judge, when the examination has been completed, be compelled to an oath concerning the truth of the things said, whether concerning all the articles of the positions or only some, whenever the gravity of the business and the circumstances of the testimony given seem to demand it.
Testes, tametsi iusiurandum praestiterint de veritate dicenda, poterunt nihilominus pro prudenti iudicis arbitrio, absoluto examine, adigi ad iusiurandum de veritate dictorum sive circa omnes positionum articulos sive circa aliquos tantum, quoties gravitas negotii et editae testificationis adiuncta id postulare videantur.
Witnesses can also be compelled by oath to preserve secrecy concerning the questions proposed and the responses given to the questions, until the acts and allegations become public; indeed even perpetually according to the norm of can. 1623, Sec. 3.
Testes adigi etiam iureiurando possunt ad secretum servandum circa propositas interrogationes dataque interrogationibus responsa, usque dum acta et allegata publici iuris fiant; imo etiam perpetuo ad normam can. 1623, § 3.