ARTICLE III: On Interdict

1306. • DEFINITION. Interdict is a censure by which the use of divine offices, of some sacraments, and of ecclesiastical burial is prohibited to certain persons, or in certain places.

Therefore interdict deprives one of the use of sacred things insofar as they are certain sacred things, and thus it differs: 1. from excommunication, which deprives one of the use of sacred things insofar as that use is communication with the faithful; 2. from suspension, which deprives one of that use insofar as it is the exercise of sacred power (Suarez, de Cens., disp. 32).

DIVISION. Interdict is multiple, namely:

1. PERSONAL, LOCAL, or MIXED, as it immediately affects persons, or place, or both together.

2. GENERAL or PARTICULAR, as it is extended to a whole region, city, community; or is restricted to an oratory, particular church, or determinate persons.

3. TOTAL or PARTIAL, as it comprehends all the effects of interdict, or only some.

To partial interdict is numbered interdict from entrance of the church, by which someone is prohibited, in church, from exercising sacred order, being present at divine things, and being buried in a sacred place. But such a one is not prohibited, more probably, from praying privately in the church, or celebrating in a private oratory. Cf. VII, 329; Salmant., tr. 10, c. 6, n. 83.

1307. • To know the extension of interdict, the following RULES hold:

I. In a general LOCAL interdict, when a city is interdicted, the suburbs and churches of regulars, although exempt, are also interdicted. All are bound to observe an interdict of this kind, even the Bishop himself who imposed it. Yet citizens who did not give cause for the interdict can go elsewhere, so that they may attend divine offices.

When a parish church is interdicted, chapels and contiguous cemeteries are also interdicted; because the accessory follows the principal, but not vice versa.

II. In a PERSONAL interdict, when a people is interdicted, clerics, students, and travelers are not judged interdicted; because they are not part of the people.

When the clergy is interdicted, laymen and religious are not interdicted, unless they have an office or benefice among that people; nor other clerics lacking office, because they do not constitute one body with the clergy. Nor likewise are churches, when citizens of the city are interdicted, subject to the interdict.

III. In a general PERSONAL interdict, Bishops are exempt, who are also exempt from general suspension; the innocent, as soon as they transfer domicile elsewhere; outsiders, although they are detained among those citizens for much time; infants and the insane, who nevertheless are deprived of ecclesiastical burial (VII, 330-332). Cf. above n. 1263, 1.

1308. There are three effects of TOTAL INTERDICT, namely:

1. Prohibition of divine offices, that is, of Mass and of all those things which can be done by clerics alone; but not of the offices of the B. V. M., of the dead, etc., if they are said privately and in a place not deputed for them. Whence, even those interdicted because of another's fault cannot be present at the sacred rite.

Nevertheless clerics and religious, when they themselves are not interdicted, can and ought, as before, to celebrate Mass and divine offices; but with doors closed, bells not rung, unless for a sermon, the Angelic salutation, or the death of someone, in a subdued voice, and with the interdicted excluded, namely those who gave cause for the interdict, or are personally interdicted, provided they have been denounced. Also excepted, in a general local interdict, are some solemnities, for example of the Nativity of the Lord, Easter, Pentecost, the Assumption of the B. V. M., and the Octave of Corpus Christi, and, for Spain, the feast of the Immaculate Conception of the B. V. M., from the indult of Leo X: on which all the interdicted can be admitted to divine offices, and, insofar as these solemnities are of precept, they ought to be present at the sacred rite (VII, 333; cf. IV, 61, where concerning religious).

2. Prohibition of the administration of some sacraments.

a) Baptism, even solemn, confirmation, and penance are excepted; these are permitted to all, except those who gave cause for the interdict, or are interdicted by name: unless they have first satisfied, or have given sworn caution concerning satisfying. b) The Eucharist is conceded only to the dying; to whom Extreme Unction also is permitted, in the case in which they cannot duly receive another sacrament. But religious can, in time of interdict, receive communion and Extreme Unction. c) Ordination is altogether prohibited, except in the case of gravest necessity. d) Marriage can, from present use, be contracted; for it is administered by the contracting parties themselves. But the nuptial blessing must be omitted (VII, 334).

3. Prohibition of ecclesiastical burial.

Nevertheless this difference is present, that laymen, even infants, are to be buried in a non-sacred place; but clerics not interdicted by name can be buried in a church, and it is permitted to celebrate Mass for them, but without pomp. Yet this is not permitted if the church is specially interdicted (cf. n. 1292, 9).

Note. The effects of a partial interdict are defined by the very words of the sentence.

1309. 1. CLERICS and RELIGIOUS sin gravely by violating an interdict, whether personal or local; unless they are excused by smallness of matter, say, if they leave the door of the church open for a brief time.

Furthermore, they incur: a) irregularity, if they violate the censure by exercising an act of their proper Order; b) suspension reserved to the Pope, if they receive Order from an interdicted Bishop who has been denounced by name (cf. n. 1366); c) interdict from entrance of the church, if they knowingly celebrate divine things in interdicted places (n. 1377).

2. LAYMEN sin gravely if they violate a personal interdict, for example by receiving the Eucharist; likewise, if they compel clerics to celebrate sacred things against a local interdict; in which case they incur, just as clerics do, a personal interdict from entrance of the church.

They sin only lightly, more probably, if they themselves, not personally interdicted, merely assist at divine offices in an interdicted place (VII, 336).

1310. 1. Local interdicts and general personal interdicts which have been imposed by common Law, and not reserved, can be removed by the Bishop, or another having jurisdiction in the interdicted community... 2. General interdicts issued by man cannot be removed except by him who issued them, or by the Pope. - 3. From a particular personal interdict of Law, if it is not reserved, any approved person can absolve.

For the rest, through the privilege of absolving from all censures the power of removing interdicts is not understood; because place and community are not subject to the forum of penance (VII, 338, 339).