Chapter II: Of the Dismissal of Religious Who Have Pronounced Perpetual Vows in a Non-exempt Clerical Religion or in a Lay Religion

In clerical non-exempt and lay religions of men, in order that one professed with perpetual vows can be dismissed, it is necessary that three offenses have preceded, with a double warning and defect of amendment according to the norm of canons 656-662.

§ 1. If these things have been established, the supreme Moderator of the religion with his Council, all the circumstances of the fact having been weighed, is to deliberate whether there is place for dismissal.

§ 2. If the greater number of votes has stood for dismissal:

1° In a religion of diocesan right, the whole matter is to be referred to the local Ordinary in whose place the religious house of the professed is situated; it belongs to him to decree dismissal according to his prudent judgment, according to the norm of can. 647.

2° In a religion of pontifical right, the supreme Moderator of the religion himself is to issue the decree of dismissal; nevertheless, in order that it obtain its effect, it must be confirmed by the Apostolic See.

§ 3. The religious has the right of freely setting forth his reasons; and his responses are to be faithfully entered in the acts.

§ 1. Also for dismissing professed religious women with perpetual vows, whether solemn or simple, grave external causes are required together with incorrigibility, an experiment having first been had in such a way that hope of repentance has vanished, in the judgment of the Abbess.

§ 2. The prescription of can. 650, Sec. 3 must also be observed in the dismissal of religious women.

§ 1. If there is question of religious women of diocesan right, it belongs to the local Ordinary in whose place the house of the professed sister is situated to weigh the causes of dismissal and issue the decree of dismissal.

§ 2. If of nuns, the local Ordinary is to transmit all the acts and documents to the Sacred Congregation with his own vote and that of the regular Superior, if the monastery is subject to regulars.

§ 3. If of other religious women of pontifical right, the supreme Moderatrix of the religion is likewise to refer the whole matter to the Sacred Congregation with all the acts and documents; moreover the Sacred Congregation, both in this and in the preceding case, will decree what it has judged more expedient, with the prescription of can. 643, Sec. 2 remaining firm.

In a case of grave external scandal or of most grave harm imminent to the community, a religious can immediately be sent back to the world by the major Superior with consent of his Council, or even, if there is danger in delay and time is not available for approaching the major Superior, by the local Superior with consent of his Council and of the local Ordinary, the religious habit being laid aside at once, yet in such a way that the matter is submitted without delay to judgment of the Holy See through the Ordinary himself or through the major Superior, if present.