Forcing a person into religion (Can. 2352)

Omnes.—Not only the giver and the receiver, but all whose consent is required for the transaction, and who gave it. Canon 2352 IV. Excommunicatione nemini reservata ipso facto plectuntur omnes, qualibet etiam dignitate fulgentes, qui quoquo modo cogant sive virum ad statum clericalem amplectendum, (There are punished ipso facto with an excommunication reserved to no one all persons, even though adorned with any dignity whatsoever, who in any way compel a man to embrace the clerical state,) sive virum aut mulierem ad religionem ingrediendam vel ad emittendam religiosam professionem tam sollemnem quam simplicem, tam perpetuam quam temporariam. (or a man or a woman to enter religion or to make religious profession, whether solemn or simple, whether perpetual or temporary.)

Cogant.—By violence, threats, instilling grave fear.

Emittendam.—Compelling them after they have entered freely to make their profession against their will. Canon 2368 V. Fidelis qui scienter omiserit eum a quo sollicitatus fuerit, intra mensem denunciare contra praescriptum Can. 904 incurrit in excommunicationem latae sententiae nemini reservatam, non absolvendus nisi postquam obligationi satisfecerit, aut se satisfacturum serio promiserit. (A member of the faithful who knowingly fails to denounce within a month the person by whom he was solicited, against the prescription of Canon 904, incurs an excommunication latae sententiae reserved to no one, and is not to be absolved until he has satisfied the obligation, or has seriously promised that he will satisfy it.)

526. 4. "All, even those adorned with any dignity whatsoever, who in any manner compel either a man to embrace the clerical state, or a man or woman to enter religion or emit a religious profession, whether solemn or simple, whether perpetual or temporary" (can. 2325).

By this excommunication liberty in choosing the clerical or religious state is protected. The religious state includes not only Orders but also approved religious Congregations. Unjustly to impede someone from the clerical or religious state is indeed a grave sin, but does not induce any censure.

5. "A member of the faithful who knowingly has omitted, contrary to the prescription of can. 904, to denounce within a month the one (the confessor) by whom he was solicited incurs a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to no one, and is not to be absolved unless he has satisfied the obligation or has seriously promised that he will satisfy it" (can. 2368, § 2).

Cf. what was said above in n. 460 ff. concerning the matter of this censure. Note furthermore: not only the solicited person himself but also all witnesses, whether immediate or mediate, who know with certainty that the crime of solicitation was committed, are bound under grave sin to denounce; on the contrary, only the solicited person himself, who culpably neglects the required denunciation for a month, incurs the present excommunication. If the solicited person has seriously promised that he will denounce within a month, he can be absolved, even if he has already incurred the censure on account of the neglected denunciation. But if, his will having changed, he afterward does not denounce, the censure appears to arise anew, because otherwise the law would be evaded. Thus the most common opinion.²⁰¹

²⁰¹ Cf. De Smet, Tract. de cas. reserv., n. 167. Noldin (De poenis eccl., n. 103) teaches the contrary, saying: "But if afterward, his will having changed, he does not denounce, the censure does not revive, because there is nothing concerning reincidence." This opinion is scarcely probable.