Vatican Archives Register 6, fol. 72r (Innocent III's Sixth Pontifical Year)

 Fourth Lateran Council c.8

[4 Comp. 5.1.4(X 5.1.24)]

Sources of Canon 8

 

Proporationality, Types of Procedure, Secundum ordinem iudiciarii

Ad corrigendos itaque subditorum excessus tanto diligentius debet praelatus assurgere, quanto damnabilius eorum offensas desereret incorrectas. Contra quos, ut de notoriis excessibus taceatur, etsi tribus modis possit procedi, per accusationem videlicet, denunciationem et inquisitionem ipsorum: ut tamen in omnibus diligens adhibeatur cautela, ne forte per leve compendium ad grave dispendium veniatur sicut accusationem legitima debet praecedere inscriptio, sic et denunciationem caritativa monitio, et inquisitionem clamosa insinuatio praevenire, illo semper adhibito moderamine, ut iuxta formam iudicii sententiae quoque forma dictetur. Hunc tamen ordinem circa regulares personas non credimus usquequaque servandum, quae, cum causa requirit, facilius et liberius a suis possunt administrationibus amoveri.

A prelate should act more diligently in correcting the offenses of his subjects in proportion as he would be worthy of condemnation were he to leave them uncorrected.  Notorious cases aside, he may proceed against them in three ways: namely by accusation, denunciation, and investigation.  Let him take care, nevertheless, to handle all cases justly so that serious loss is not made for the sake of a small gain. Consequently a admonition should precede an accusation, a caring warning should precede a denunciation, and  public publication of the charges should precede an investigation.  The rule should always be adhered to that the judgment shall conform to the rules of judicial procedure.  We do not think, however, that canons regular fall under these rules since they can be removed by their superiors when there is cause to do so.

Translation based on Norman P. Tanner, Decrees of the Ecumenical Councils (Washington, D.C. 1990) 1.237-239