Question Four: On the Abuse of the Power of the Minister

The minister can indeed abuse his power in many ways, which have been anticipated in the various parts of the treatise; hence at present one must speak only of a twofold abuse more specially prohibited by ecclesiastical authority, namely 1) of the absolution of an accomplice in a shameful sin; 2) of solicitation of a penitent to shameful things.¹

¹ We have in mind to run through the questions briefly. Especially, even for the documents, De Smet, De Absolutione complicis et sollicitatione; Chretien, De Poenitentia quaedam quaestiones; or also our little work: De Poenitentiae Ministro, c. 5, can be consulted.