Chapter — 1917 Code of Canon Law
Chapter II: Of the Cardinal Relator, Promoters of the Faith, and Subpromoters
Superseded as law in 1983 — read why this Code still matters. Each canon links to its 1983 counterpart.
§ 1. In causes which are conducted before the Sacred Congregation, one of the Cardinal Fathers enrolled in the same Congregation, designated by the Roman Pontiff, is to act as relator or ponens.
§ 2. His office is to devote special study to the cause entrusted to him and to report in the plenary or ordinary congregation all those things which seem to make either in favor of the cause or against it.
§ 1. In causis, quae agitantur apud Sacram Congregationem, relatorem seu ponentem agat unus e Patribus Cardinalibus eidem Congregationi adscriptis, a Romano Pontifice designatus.
§ 2. Eius officium est causae sibi demandatae peculiare studium impendere et in plenaria seu ordinaria congregatione ea omnia referre, quae sive in favorem causae sive contra eam facere videntur.
§ 1. For the protection of the law, the promoter of the faith must have a part in any process, who must always be cited according to the norm of can. 1587.
§ 2. The promoter of the faith before the Sacred Congregation is called the Promoter General of the Faith, and the Assessor of the Sacred Congregation who assists him is called the Sub-promoter General of the Faith.
§ 1. Ad ius tuendum in quolibet processu partem habere debet promotor fidei, qui semper citari debet ad normam can. 1587.
§ 2. Fidei promotor apud Sacram Congregationem dicitur Promotor generalis fidei, et Assessor Sacrae Congregationis qui eidem assistit, dicitur Sub-promotor generalis fidei.
§ 1. A promoter of the faith, outside the Sacred Congregation, can be constituted either for all causes or for some particular cause.
§ 2. The Promoter General of the Faith and Sub-promoter General are chosen by the Roman Pontiff; the promoter of the faith before the tribunal of Ordinaries, if indeed there is question of an apostolic process, is nominated by the Promoter General and then has the name of sub-promoter; otherwise he is to be named by the Ordinary before the edict of which in can. 2043.
§ 1. Promotor fidei, extra Sacram Congregationem, constitui potest vel ad omnes causas vel ad aliquam causam particularem.
§ 2. Promotor fidei generalis et Sub-promotor generalis a Romano Pontifice eliguntur; promotor fidei apud Ordinariorum tribunal, si quidem agatur de processu apostolico, nominatur a Promotore generali et tunc nomen sub-promotoris habet; secus nominetur ab Ordinario ante edictum de quo in can. 2043.
§ 1. It belongs to the promoter of the faith to compose sober, merely historical interrogatories, which do not tend to elicit some certain response from the one interrogated, and which are apt for uncovering the truth even concerning the articles proposed by the postulator, and to exhibit them to the judges under obligation of secrecy.
§ 2. It is moreover for the same promoter to insist that witnesses be cited from office and to promote opportune exceptions; but the judge can call witnesses from office, even when the promoter of the faith does not insist or refuses, after nevertheless having warned him.
§ 1. Promotoris fidei est concinnare interrogatoria sobria, mere historica, quae non eo spectent ut certam quandam responsionem ab interrogato eliciant, quaeque apta sint ad veritatem eruendam etiam super articulis a postulatore propositis, eaque iudicibus exhibere sub secreti obligatione.
§ 2. Est praeterea eiusdem promotoris instare ut testes ex officio citentur et opportunas promovere exceptiones; sed iudex potest testes, etiam promotore fidei non instante aut renuente, ipso tamen monito, ex officio arcessere.