Folia Theologica et Canonica, Supplementum (2016)

Péter Artner, Preventive Disciplinary Measures Before the Application of a Penalty

FOLIA THEOLOGICA ET CANONICA (2016) 4I-Í8

Péter Artner

PREVENTIVE DISCIPLINARY MEASURES BEFORE THE APPLICATION OF A PENALTY*

I. Fundamental canon for canonical penal law and penal process; II. Preliminary Investigation and Penal Process; III. Canonical Warnings; IV. Natural Rights of Offender; V. The possibility of judicial or administrative procedure; VI. Particular Prescriptions about ‘Delicta Graviora’

The aim of the Church is the salvation of souls, the salus animarum which has to be the reached by all means. Even in the penal system of the Church and the purpose of penalties is not the reprisal, but the reparation of the harmed justice and forming of the faithful for the good of all.

1. Fundamental canon for canonical penal law and penal process

According to the basic penal and procedural canon (c. 1341)', the ordinary may initiate a judicial or administrative process to impose or declare a penalty only after he has ascertained that neither fraternal correction, nor rebuke, nor other means of pastoral solicitude could sufficiently reach the goals of the penalty (the Three “R”): to Repair the scandal, to Restore justice and to Reform the offender.2 This means that the ordinary has to apply all these measures before the real punishments.3 As c. 1341 is a canon of penal and procedural law, the diocesan bishop is not able to dispense from it (c. 87 § 1 ), though the application of c. 1341 is not for validity but for licity.4

* This artice has been composed on my Habilitation Dissertation which was defended at the Pázmány Péter Catholic University, Canon Law Institute “ad instar facultatis” (Budapest, 2013).

' CIC (1983) Can. 1341 Ordinarius procedúrám iudicialem vel administrativam ad poenas irrogandas vel declarandas tunc tantum promovendam curet, cum perspexerit neque fraterna correctione neque correptione neque aliis pastoralis sollicitudinis viis satis posse scandalum reparari, iustitiam restitui, reum emendari.

2 Astigueta, D. G., Medicinalità della pena canonica, in Periodica 99 (2010) 279-282. Marzoa, Á. - Miras, I. - Rodríguez-Ocaña, R. (ed.), Exegelical Commentary, IV/1.365 (De Paolis, V.).

3 McDonough, E., A Novus Habitus Mentis for Sanctions in the Church, in The Jurist 48 (1988) 208.

4 Borras, A., Le role du précepte penal dans le droit en vigueur, in Folia Canonica 1 (2004) 209. De Paolis, V., Aspectus Theologici et iuridici in systemate Poenali Canonico, in Periodica 75 (1986) 224.