Until Judgment Day (27 page)

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See canons 35–58, 149, 157, 187–189, 192–195, 277§3, 381, 383, 391, 1348, 1740–1747.

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The diocesan bishop/eparch may exercise his power of governance to take one or more of the following administrative actions: (cc. 381, 129ff):

a. He may request that the accused freely resign from any currently held ecclesiastical office (cc. 187–189).

b. Should the accused decline to resign and should the diocesan bishop/eparch judge the accused to be truly not suitable (c. 157), then he may remove that person from office observing the required canonical procedures (cc. 192–195, 1740–1747).

c. For a cleric who holds no office in the diocese/eparchy, any previously delegated faculties may be administratively removed (c. 391, §1 and 142, §1), while any de lege faculties may be removed or restricted by the competent authority as provided in law (e.g., c. 764).

d. The diocesan bishop/eparch may also judge that the circumstances surrounding a particular case constitute the just and reasonable cause for a priest to celebrate the Eucharist with no member of the faithful present (c. 906), and he may strongly urge the priest not to do so and not to administer the sacraments for the good of the Church and for his own good.

e. Depending on the gravity of the case, the diocesan bishop/eparch may also dispense (cc. 85–88) the cleric from the obligation of wearing clerical attire (c. 284) and may urge that he not do so for the good of the Church and for his own good.

These administrative actions shall be taken in writing and by means of decrees (cc. 47–58) so that the cleric affected is afforded the opportunity of recourse against them in accord with canon law (cc 1734 ff).

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The necessary observance of the canonical norms internal to the Church is not intended in any way to hinder the course of any civil action that may be operative. At the same time, the Church reaffirms her right to enact legislation binding on all her members concerning the ecclesiastical dimensions of the delict of sexual abuse of minors.

November 10, 2002 Copyright © by United States Conference of Catholic Bishops