Part Three: Of the Manner of Proceeding in Certain Affairs to Be Dispatched or Penal Sanctions to Be Applied

In the processes of which below, a notary is always to be employed, who is to consign in writing acts which must be subscribed by all and preserved in the archive.

§ 1. As often as warnings are prescribed, these must be made either orally before the chancellor or another official of the Curia or two witnesses, or through letters according to the norm of can. 1719.

§ 2. An authentic document of the warning carried out and of its tenor is to be preserved in the acts.

§ 3. He who prevents the warning from reaching himself is to be held as warned.

§ 1. Examiners and consultors and the notary must, an oath having been interposed from the beginning of the process, observe secrecy concerning all things which by reason of their office they know, and especially concerning hidden documents, discussions held in council, the number and motives of votes.

§ 2. If they have by no means obeyed this prescription, they must not only be removed from office, but can also be punished by the Ordinary, with those things to be observed having been observed, with another condign penalty; and moreover they are held to repair damages, if any have followed from this.

§ 1. In these processes one must proceed summarily; but it is not prohibited that two or three witnesses, whether summoned from office or introduced by a party, be heard, unless the Ordinary, after the pastor-consultors or examiners have been heard, has considered that the parties are introducing them to weave delays.

§ 2. Witnesses and experts, unless sworn, are not to be admitted.

§ 1. From a definitive decree there is given one remedy of law, that is, recourse to the Apostolic See.

§ 2. In this case all acts of the process are to be transmitted to the Holy See.

§ 3. While recourse is pending, the Ordinary cannot validly confer stably on another the parish or benefice of which the cleric has been deprived.