Part One: Of Trials

§ 1. By the name of ecclesiastical trial is understood the legitimate discussion and definition, before an ecclesiastical tribunal, of a controversy in a matter concerning which the Church has the right of taking cognizance.

§ 2. The object of a trial is:

1° The rights of physical or moral persons to be pursued or vindicated, or juridical facts of the same persons to be declared; and then the trial is contentious.

2° Offenses in order to a penalty to be inflicted or declared; and then the trial is criminal.

§ 1. By her own and exclusive right the Church takes cognizance:

1° Of causes which regard spiritual things and things attached to spiritual things.

2° Of the violation of ecclesiastical laws and of all things in which there is the reason of sin, as regards the definition of fault and the imposition of ecclesiastical penalties.

3° Of all causes, whether contentious or criminal, which regard persons enjoying the privilege of forum according to the norm of can. 120, 614, 680.

§ 2. In causes in which both the Church and the civil power are equally competent, and which are called of mixed forum, there is place for prevention.

An actor who brings causes of mixed forum, which have been brought before an ecclesiastical judge, to a secular forum to be judged can be punished with suitable penalties according to the norm of can. 2222 and is deprived of the right of acting in the ecclesiastical forum against the same person concerning the same matter and connected causes.

§ 1. The tribunal of the Congregation of the Holy Office proceeds according to its own manner and institution and retains its own proper custom; and also inferior tribunals, in causes which pertain to the tribunal of the Holy Office, must follow the norms handed on by the same.

§ 2. The other tribunals must observe the prescriptions of the canons which follow.

§ 3. In a trial for the dismissal of religious, the prescriptions of can. 654-668 are to be observed.