Part III. Special Censures

THE special censures which are now in force in the Western Church are contained in Book V, Part III, of the Code—On the Penalties of Particular Crimes. Of the excommunications some are reserved to the Holy See in a very special manner, others in a special manner, and others simply reserved; others are reserved to bishops, and others are not reserved but may be absolved on proper conditions by any confessor. Special faculties are required in order to absolve from cases reserved to the Holy See, except in certain circumstances described in the chapter on reserved cases. Faculties for cases simply reserved will not avail for cases specially reserved, and faculties for cases specially reserved will not avail for cases very specially reserved. ensures very specially reserved to the Holy See have other characteristics besides requiring very special faculties for their absolution. Canon 2247, sec. 3, provides that where a confessor in ignorance of the reservation absolves a penitent from a censure and from a sin, the absolution is valid except in the case of a censure ab homine, or of a censure very specially reserved to the Holy See. Canon 2237, sec. 2, grants power to bishops to remit penalties latae sententiae of the common law in occult cases, but censures very specially and those specially reserved are excepted. Canon 2252 provides that when a penitent has been absolved when in danger of death by a simple confessor from a censure ab homine or one very specially reserved to the Holy See, if he recovers he is bound to present himself to the person who censured him or to the Sacred Penitentiary, and submit to their requirements. This is not necessary in the case of one who has been absolved in danger of death from other censures.

We shall give a list of the censures contained in the Code with brief comments where they seem to be called for.