Title XXI: Of Causes against Sacred Ordination

§ 1. In causes in which obligations contracted from sacred ordination or the validity itself of sacred ordination are impugned, the libellus must be sent to the Sacred Congregation of the Discipline of the Sacraments or, if ordination is impugned because of a substantial defect of the sacred rite, to the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office; and the Sacred Congregation defines whether the cause is to be treated in judicial order or by the path of discipline.

§ 2. If the first, the Sacred Congregation remits the cause to the tribunal of the diocese which was proper to the cleric at the time of sacred ordination, or, if sacred ordination is impugned because of a substantial defect of the sacred rite, to the tribunal of the diocese in which the ordination was performed; but for the grades of appeal the prescription of can. 1594-1601 is to be stood by.

§ 3. If the second, the Sacred Congregation itself resolves the question, after an informative process has first been carried out by the tribunal of the competent Curia.

§ 1. The cleric equally as well as the Ordinary to whom the cleric is subject or in whose diocese he was ordained is able to accuse the validity of sacred ordination.

§ 2. Only the cleric who thinks that he has not contracted from sacred ordination the obligations attached to the order can petition a declaration of nullity of the burdens.

All those things which are said both in the First Section of this Part and in the special title concerning process in matrimonial causes must also be observed, with congruous things referred to congruous things, in causes against sacred ordination.

The defender of the bond of sacred ordination enjoys the same rights and is held to the same offices by which the defender of the matrimonial bond is bound.

Although the action has been instituted not concerning the nullity itself of sacred ordination, but only concerning obligations arising from the sacred ordination itself, nevertheless the cleric is to be prohibited, as a precaution, from the exercise of orders.

§ 1. For a cleric to be free from the obligations which flow from the bond of ordination, two conforming sentences are required.

§ 2. As regards appeal, in these causes the prescriptions of can. 1986-1989 concerning matrimonial causes are to be observed.