Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Biuletyn Stowarzyszenia Kanonistów Polskich

Vol. 35 No. 38 (2025)

Articles

Reflection on Irregularity Incurred Due to Amentia and Other Psychic Infirmities

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32077/bskp.9692  [Google Scholar]
Published: 2025-05-26

Abstract

The pre-1983 Code legislations, right from the time of Decretals, classified irregularities into irregularities ex defectu and irregularities ex delicto. A classification retained by the 1917 Code od Canon Law (Canons 984-988) but later dropped by the 1983 Code. Despite throwing out this classification of irregularities the 1983 Code has retained insanity and psychological infirmities among those irregularities incurred ex defectu. This is an irregularity for the reception of holy orders when it is incurred before one receives sacred orders, but an impediment to the exercise of order already received if it is incurred after the reception of holy orders. This article, therefore, gives a critical reflection on the nature of this irregularity and how it should be understood properly by the Ordinaries when evaluating cases of this kind.

References

  1. Beal, John P. 1996. “Too good to be true? A response to Professor Woestman on the interpretation of canons 1041, 1° and 1044, §2, 2°.” Monitor Ecclesiasticus 121:431-63. [Google Scholar]
  2. Chiappetta, Luigi. 1988. Il Codice di diritto canonico. Commento giuridico-pastorale. Vol. I. Napoli: Edizioni Dehoniane. [Google Scholar]
  3. Gilbert, Edward J. 1985. “Orders, cc. 1008-1054.” In The Code of Canon Law. A Text and Commentary, edited by James A. Coriden, Thomas J. Green, and Donald E. Heintschel, 713-39. London: G. Chapman. [Google Scholar]
  4. Gonzalez del Valle, José. 2004. “Commentary on can. 1040.” In Exegetical Commentary on the Code of Canon Law. Vol. 3, edited by Ángel Marzoa, Jorge Miras, and Rafael Rodríguez-Ocaña, 980-1015. Montréal: Wilson Lafleur. [Google Scholar]
  5. Kaslyn, Robert. 2002. “The sacrament of orders: irregularities and impediments – an overview.” The Jurist 62:159-94. [Google Scholar]
  6. Keating, John. 1973. The Bearing of Mental Impairment on Validity of Marriage: An Analysis of the Rotal Jurisprudence. Roma: Anacleta Gregoriana. Vol. 136. Series Facultatis Iuris Canonici. Gregorian University Press. [Google Scholar]
  7. Lagges, Patrick. 1996. “The use of canon 1044, §2, 2° in the removal of the removal of the parish priests.” Studia Canonica 30:31-69. [Google Scholar]
  8. Lüdicke, Klaus. 1985. Münsterischer Kommentar zum Codex Iuris Canonici. Essen: Ludgerus Verlag. [Google Scholar]
  9. Okello, John O. 2024. Separation of Members from the Institute and Leave of Absence. Aguadulce-Almería: Circulo Rojo Editorial. [Google Scholar]
  10. Pavanello, Pierantonio. 1999. “Irregolarità e impedimenti a ricevere l’ordine sacro.” Quaderni di Diritto Ecclesiale 12:279-96. [Google Scholar]
  11. Stankiewicz, Antoni. 1980. “L’incapacità psichica nel matrimonio: terminologia e criteri.” Apollinaris 53:48-71. [Google Scholar]
  12. Torres, Juan. 1992. “La dispensa dei voti.” Informationes SCRIS 18:229-48. [Google Scholar]
  13. Wernz, Francisco X, and Petri Vidal. 1934. Ius canonicum. Vol. 4. Romae: apud aedes Universitatis Gregorianae. [Google Scholar]
  14. Woestman, William. 1995. “Too good to be true? A current interpretation of canons 1041, 1° and 1044, §2, 2°.” Monitor Ecclesiasticus 120:619-29. [Google Scholar]
  15. Woestman, William. 1999. The sacrament of orders and the clerical state. A commentary on the Code of canon law. Ottawa: Faculty of Canon Law, Saint Paul University. [Google Scholar]

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.