Chapter XI. De Abusu Sacramenti Poenitentiae

SANCTISSIMIS institutis abuti hominum malitia valet, nec sacramento Poenitentiae excepto. Ecclesia tamen nihil intentatum reliquit ut abusus hujus sacramenti evitentur vel ut iis si forte occurrant aptum remedium praebeatur. Gregorius XV aliique Romani Pontifices et praesertim Benedictus XIV leges tulerunt contra sollicitationem in sacro tribunali ac absolutionem complicis in peccato turpi. De his in hoc capite agimus ac primo de sollicitatione (Can. (The malice of men is able to abuse the most holy institutions, not excepting the sacrament of Penance. The Church, however, has left nothing untried in order that abuses of this sacrament may be avoided, or that, if they should occur, a fitting remedy may be provided. Gregory XV and other Roman Pontiffs, and especially Benedict XIV, made laws against solicitation in the sacred tribunal and against the absolution of an accomplice in a sin of impurity. Of these we treat in this chapter, and first of solicitation.) 904).

De crimine sollicitationis in sacro tribunali Benedictus XIV Constitutione Sacramentum Poenitentiae tria statuit. Primo committit ac mandat omnibus locorum Ordinariis universi orbis christiani in suis respectivis dioecesibus ut diligenter omnique humano respectu postposito inquirant et procedant contra omnes ac singulos sacerdotes, tam seculares quam regulares quomodolibet exemptos, qui sollicitationis sunt rei, eosque graviter puniant. Rei autem sunt sollicitationis qui aliquem poenitentem, quaecumque persona illa sit, vel in actu sacramentalis confessionis, vel ante, vel immediate post confessionem, vel occasione, aut praetextu confessionis vel etiam extra occasionem confessionis in confessionali, sive in alio loco ad confessiones audiendas destinato aut electo, simulatione audiendi ibidem confessionem, ad inhonesta et turpia sollicitare, vel provocare, sive verbis, sive signis, sive nutibus, sive tactu, sive per scripturam aut tunc aut post legendam, tentaverint, aut cum eis illicitos et inhonestos sermones vel tractatus temerario ausu habuerint. Secundo, omnes et singuli sacerdotes ad confessiones audiendas constituti tenentur suos poenitentes quos noverint fuisse ab aliis sollicitatos sedulo monere de obligatione denunciandi locorum ordinariis personam quae sollicitationem commiserit, etiamsi sacerdos sit qui jurisdictione ad absolutionem valide impertiendam careat, aut sollicitatio inter confessarium et poenitentem mutua fuerit, sive sollicitationi poenitens consenserit, sive consensum minime praestiterit, vel longum tempus post ipsam sollicitationem jam effluxerit, aut sollicitatio a confessario non pro seipso sed pro alia persona peracta fuerit. Tertio, potestas absolvendi eos qui sive per se sive per alios apud ecclesiasticos judices falso innoxios sacerdotes sollicitationis accusant reservatur Summo Pontifici, ut tam detestabile facinus metu magnitudinis poenae coerceatur (Can (Concerning the crime of solicitation in the sacred tribunal Benedict XIV, in the Constitution Sacramentum Poenitentiae, laid down three things. First, he commits and enjoins upon all local Ordinaries of the whole Christian world, in their respective dioceses, that they diligently, and setting aside all human respect, inquire into and proceed against each and every priest, whether secular or regular and however exempt, who are guilty of solicitation, and punish them gravely. Now those are guilty of solicitation who have attempted to solicit or provoke any penitent, whoever that person may be, to what is shameful and base — whether in the act of sacramental confession, or before it, or immediately after it, or on the occasion or under the pretext of confession, or even apart from the occasion of confession in the confessional, or in another place set apart or chosen for hearing confessions, under the pretence of hearing a confession there — whether by words, or by signs, or by nods, or by touch, or by writing to be read then or afterwards; or who with rash daring have held unlawful and indecent conversations or dealings with them. Secondly, each and every priest appointed to hear confessions is bound diligently to warn those of his penitents whom he knows to have been solicited by others of the obligation of denouncing to the local Ordinaries the person who committed the solicitation — even if the priest be one who lacks jurisdiction to give absolution validly, or if the solicitation was mutual between confessor and penitent, or whether the penitent consented to the solicitation or gave no consent at all, or a long time has already passed since the solicitation, or the solicitation was made by the confessor not for himself but for another person. Thirdly, the power of absolving those who, either by themselves or through others, falsely accuse innocent priests of solicitation before ecclesiastical judges is reserved to the Supreme Pontiff, that so detestable a crime may be restrained by fear of the greatness of the penalty.). 894).

Ex dictis igitur, quae fere ad verbum in Constitutione Benedicti XIV inveniuntur, constat Ordinarios teneri sub gravi inquirere in sollicitantes ac hujus criminis reos graviter punire. Praxis Sacri Officii est ut post unam alteramve denunciationem sacerdos denunciatus observetur. Post tertiam vero contra suspectum procedi solet. Ad formale examen vocantur parochi aliique spectatae virtutis viri qui de indole et qualitatibus denunciantis et denunciati sub juramento de veritate dicenda et de secreto servando testimonium proferunt. Poenae jure reis infligendae sunt privatio omnium facultatum ad confessiones excipiendas, suspensio ab exercitio ordinis, privatio beneficiorum, privatio vocis activae et passivae si sit regularis, omnes tamen sunt ferendae sententiae (Can. (From what has been said, therefore, which is found almost word for word in the Constitution of Benedict XIV, it is established that Ordinaries are bound under grave sin to inquire into solicitors and to punish the guilty of this crime gravely. The practice of the Holy Office is that after one or another denunciation the denounced priest be watched; but after a third, proceedings are usually taken against the suspect. To the formal examination are called parish priests and other men of approved virtue, who give testimony on oath, to tell the truth and to keep secrecy, concerning the character and qualities of the denouncer and of the one denounced. The penalties to be inflicted on the guilty by law are deprivation of all faculties for hearing confessions, suspension from the exercise of the order, deprivation of benefices, and deprivation of active and passive voice if he be a regular; all of them, however, are ferendae sententiae.) 2368). Termini adhibiti in crimine definiendo strictae sunt interpretationis.

In actu sacramentalis confessionis: hoc intelligendum est de intervallo quod intercedit inter benedictionem et absolutionem etiam si poenitens non fuerit absolutus ob defectum dispositionum vel ob aliam causam.

Ante vel immediate post: ita ut nulla actio non referibilis ad sollicitationem intercesserit.

Occasione vel praetextu confessionis: occasio est quando confessio sequebatur vel sequi debebat juxta intentionem petentis. Praetextus habetur quando confessarius ficte proponit confessionem ut sollicitet. Quare si mulier et sacerdos fingunt confessionem faciendam ad alios decipiendos et ad tutius peccandum non est locus denunciandi, nec probabilius si poenitens praetexat confessionem ad sacerdotem-vocandum et sollicitandum. Probabilius non est denunciandus sacerdos qui propter cognitam ex confessione fragilitatem mulieris eam domi sollicitat, quia occasione scientiae ex confessione habitae sollicitat, non occasione confessionis (The terms used in defining the crime are of strict interpretation. In the act of sacramental confession: this is to be understood of the interval which falls between the blessing and the absolution, even if the penitent was not absolved for want of dispositions or for some other cause. Before or immediately after: so that no action unconnected with the solicitation has intervened. On the occasion or under the pretext of confession: it is an occasion when confession followed, or was to have followed, according to the intention of the one asking. There is a pretext when the confessor feignedly proposes confession in order to solicit. Wherefore, if a woman and a priest pretend that a confession is to be made in order to deceive others and to sin more safely, there is no room for denunciation; nor, more probably, if the penitent uses confession as a pretext for calling the priest and soliciting him. More probably a priest is not to be denounced who, on account of a woman’s frailty known from confession, solicits her at home, because he solicits on the occasion of knowledge had from confession, not on the occasion of the confession.).

In confessional: sive in alio loco ad confessiones audiendas destinato aut electo simulatione audiendi ibidem confessionem: unde non denunciandus est sacerdos qui sollicitat mulierem stantem ante confessionale, deest enim simulatio audiendi ejus confessionem. (or in another place set apart or chosen for hearing confessions, under the pretence of hearing a confession there: hence a priest is not to be denounced who solicits a woman standing in front of the confessional, for the pretence of hearing her confession is wanting.)

Inhonesta et turpia: haec significat gravia peccata contra sextum decalogi praeceptum. Graviter inhonesti sermones vel tractatus quin ulterius procedatur constituunt sollicitationem si ceterae conditiones habeantur. Qui externe poenitenti sollicitanti videtur esse denunciandus. (this signifies grave sins against the sixth precept of the decalogue. Gravely indecent conversations or dealings, even though nothing further follows, constitute solicitation if the other conditions are present. One who outwardly appears to be soliciting a penitent is to be denounced.) consentit

Omnes confessarii monere suos poenitentes, sive feminas sive masculos tenentur quos ab aliis sacerdotibus fuisse sollicitatos noverint de obligatione denunciandi sacerdotes sollicitantes locorum ordinariis vel Sanctae Sedi per Sacrum Officium vel per Poenitentiariam. Infra mensem ab accepta cognitione denunciationis faciendae obligatio est implenda, aliter poenitens sollicitatus incurrit excommunicationem nemini, reservatam ex Constitutione Pii IX, Apostolicae Sedis, et Can. (All confessors are bound to warn those of their penitents, whether women or men, whom they know to have been solicited by other priests, of the obligation of denouncing the soliciting priests to the local Ordinaries, or to the Holy See through the Holy Office or through the Penitentiary. The obligation of making the denunciation is to be fulfilled within a month from the time the knowledge was received; otherwise the solicited penitent incurs an excommunication reserved to no one, by the Constitution of Pius IX, Apostolicae Sedis.) 2368, sec. 2. Omnes etiam qui certo sciant casum sollicitationis sacerdotem reum denunciare tenentur, non tamen sub censura. Confessarii monere poenitentes de obligatione denunciandi sollicitantes tenentur, etiamsi praevideant eos obligationem non impleturos, nisi sint in articulo mortis, tunc enim dissimulare ob salutem animae licet. Nec capax est absolutionis qui onus implere recusat vel saltem nisi promittat se onus impleturum quum primum poterit. Confessarius audiens poenitentem qui sollicitatus fuisse videtur, circumstantias casus investigare debet ut moralem certitudinem de crimine patrato acquirat antequam obligationem denunciandi sollicitantem imponat. Denunciatio juridice est facienda, ac proinde qui denunciat personaliter adire debet ordinarium loci ubi crimen patrabatur, ac sub juramento testimonium dare. Qui ordinarium adire nequit, ad eum scribat, ut delegatum sibi substituere valeat ad denunciationem accipiendam. Scriptae denunciationes anonymae nullius sunt momenti, nec sufficiunt ad obligationi satisfaciendum.

Qui falso juridice accusat sacerdotem sollicitationis gravissimum committit peccatum et incurrit in excommunicationem cujus absolutio speciali modo Romano Pontifici reservatur a qua nequit ullo in casu absolvi nisi falsam denunciationem formaliter retractaverit, et damna reparaverit. Peccatum etiam ratione sui reservatur Sanctae Sedi (Can. (All also who know for certain of a case of solicitation are bound to denounce the guilty priest, not however under censure. Confessors are bound to warn penitents of the obligation of denouncing solicitors even if they foresee that they will not fulfil the obligation, unless they are at the point of death, for then it is lawful to say nothing for the good of the soul. Nor is he capable of absolution who refuses to fulfil the burden, or at least unless he promises that he will fulfil it as soon as he can. A confessor hearing a penitent who appears to have been solicited ought to investigate the circumstances of the case, so as to acquire moral certainty that the crime was committed, before he imposes the obligation of denouncing the solicitor. The denunciation is to be made juridically, and therefore the one who denounces ought to approach in person the Ordinary of the place where the crime was committed, and to give testimony on oath. One who cannot approach the Ordinary should write to him, so that he may be able to appoint a delegate in his place to receive the denunciation. Written anonymous denunciations are of no weight, nor do they suffice to satisfy the obligation. One who juridically accuses a priest of solicitation falsely commits a most grave sin and incurs an excommunication the absolution of which is reserved to the Roman Pontiff in a special manner, from which he cannot in any case be absolved unless he has formally retracted the false denunciation and repaired the damage. The sin also is by reason of itself reserved to the Holy See.) 2363, 894).

Ex eadem Constitutione Benedicti XIV, Sacramentum Poenitentiae, confessarius poenitentem quocum peccatum grave contra castitatem commiserit a peccato complicem absolvere nequit; (By the same Constitution of Benedict XIV, Sacramentum Poenitentiae, a confessor cannot absolve from the sin an accomplice with whom he has committed a grave sin against chastity;) qui autem talem complicem absolvere attentat in casum incidit specialissimo modo reservatum Romano Pontifici. Eandem poenam incurrit qui se absolvere fingit vel, sive directe sive indirecte, complicem inducit ad peccatum complicitatis tacendum quum ad confessionem venit. Si vero poenitens bona fide vel inadvertenter peccatum complicitatis omiserit dum complici confitetur valide ab eo absolvitur. Idem videtur dicendum si complex ab alio sacerdote directe a peccato complicitatis jam absolutus idem peccatum postea tamquam materiam liberam sacerdoti complici confitetur. Praestat autem ut sacerdos complex nunquam confessionem complicis excipiat nisi in casu necessitatis (Can. (The same penalty is incurred by one who pretends to absolve, or who, either directly or indirectly, induces the accomplice to keep silent about the sin of complicity when coming to confession. But if the penitent in good faith or inadvertently has omitted the sin of complicity while confessing to the accomplice, he is validly absolved by him. The same seems to be said if the accomplice, already directly absolved from the sin of complicity by another priest, afterwards confesses that same sin as free matter to the accomplice priest. It is better, however, that an accomplice priest should never hear the confession of his accomplice except in a case of necessity.) 884, 2367).

Complex vero in peccato turpi hic intelligitur qui interne et externe grave peccatum contra castitatem sive verbis sive aspectu sive facto cum sacerdote etiam ante sacerdotium susceptum commiserit. Ut incurratur censura absolutio debet esse formalis ita ut sacerdos sciat se absolvere poenitentem complicem, vel saltem ut ejus ignorantia sit crassa et supina. Requiritur etiam ut poenitens cognoverit se peccasse cum hoc sacerdote sive in actu peccati sive saltem ante absolutionem acceptam, quamvis non sit necessarium ut poenitens confessarium in actu confessionis agnoscat. Sacerdos igitur qui larvatus et incognitus cum muliere peccavit eam adhuc ignorantem suum complicem absolvere valide potest, nam aliter sese proderet poenitenti ac alii confessario ad quem poenitens absolutionis causa accederet. (By an accomplice in a sin of impurity is here understood one who, internally and externally, has committed a grave sin against chastity with the priest — whether by words, by looks, or by deed — even before the priesthood was received. For the censure to be incurred the absolution must be formal, so that the priest knows that he is absolving a penitent who is his accomplice, or at least so that his ignorance is crass and supine. It is also required that the penitent should have known that she sinned with this priest, either in the act of the sin or at least before absolution was received, although it is not necessary that the penitent should recognise the confessor in the act of confession. A priest, therefore, who sinned with a woman while masked and unrecognised can validly absolve her while she is still unaware that he is her accomplice; for otherwise he would betray himself to the penitent and to another confessor to whom the penitent might go for absolution.)

In articulo seu periculo mortis absolutio complicis data a complice sacerdote semper est valida ne anima pereat, ait Benedictus XIV. Praeterea complex moribundus qui nequit aut non vult alteri sacerdoti confiteri licite etiam a complice sacerdote absolvitur. Si vero alius sacerdos etiam non approbatus adsit, vel sine infamia et scandalo advocari possit ad confessionem accipiendam, sacerdos qui complicem in periculo mortis constitutum absolvat excommunicationem non evitat. (Moreover a dying accomplice who cannot, or will not, confess to another priest may lawfully be absolved even by the accomplice priest. But if another priest, even one not approved, is at hand, or can be called without infamy and scandal to receive the confession, a priest who absolves an accomplice placed in danger of death does not escape the excommunication.)

In locis remotis ubi complex alium confessarium habere nequit, et in periculo est ne sine absolutione discedat e vita, potest probabiliter a complice absolvi ne anima pereat. Poterit etiam sacerdos facultatem obtinere ut complicem in tanta necessitate absolvat. (A priest will also be able to obtain the faculty of absolving an accomplice in so great a necessity.)

THE confessor does not satisfy his obligations merely by absolving the penitents who come to him, and refusing absolution to those who are not properly disposed. In the confessional he holds the place of Christ for the reconciliation of sinners with God; he is also the minister of the sacrament, and as such he is bound to see that it is validly and lawfully received by the penitent. In other words, as theologians say, the confessor is the spiritual father, doctor, counsellor, and judge of his penitents. Something must be said on each of these heads (Can. 888, sec. 1).