Regulations and Name for the Holy Office
Throughout the course of the ages and of human events, the Roman Pontiffs and the body of bishops in union with them have safeguarded the deposit of revealed religion, which is to be preserved in its entirety and which was entrusted to them by divine plan, in such a way that they have passed it on intact down to our times, and not without some indication that a higher aid coming from the Holy Spirit, who is as it were the soul of the Mystical Body of Christ, was working through them.
Origin of the Curia
But the Church, which was divinely instituted and which deals with divine things, is made up of men and dwells among men. And so it has used different instruments to carry out its duties and functions, depending on the differences of time and culture, since it has taken it upon itself to provide for and settle many affairs of great magnitude that the Roman Pontiffs and the bishops, who are tied down by many cares and concerns, could not take care of by themselves. The very nature of things give rise to administrative organizations, or a Curia, whose role was to expedite the governing of the Church by seeing to the observance of established laws, by fostering undertakings that would be of help to the Church in achieving its goal, and at times by settling controversies that had arisen.
Periodic reforms necessary
There is nothing surprising, then, in the fact that with the change in times some aspects of these organizations called for a change. On a number of occasions in the past, Our Predecessors in the Roman pontificate have devoted their attention to effecting timely reforms in the organizations of the Roman Curia; especially worthy of mention in this regard are the Constitutions Immensa Aeterni Dei of Sixtus V and Sapienti Consilio of St. Pius X, whose prescriptions were adopted by the Code of Canon Law almost in full.
But since the time of these Constitutions, in fact even since the promulgation of the Code, a great change has taken place in the times and in human affairs, as We pointed out in Our allocution to the eminent Cardinals and officials of the Roman Curia on September 21, 1963.[1]
New reform to begin with Holy Office
With all this in mind, and after seeking the advice of the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church and of the bishops, We have decreed that a kind of reform of the Roman Curia is to take place. There can be no doubt that it should begin with the Congregation of the Holy Office, which has charge of the most important business of the Curia, that dealing with doctrine of faith and morals and the cases closely connected with this doctrine.
Its history
On July 21, 1542, Our Predecessor Paul III in his Constitution Licet ab initio founded the Sacred Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition, whose specific purpose was to be prosecution of heresies and hence checking into crimes against the faith, proscribing books, nominating Inquisitors for the universal Church. Often power over other matters was added to these, either because of special difficulties involved or because of their special importance.
In the year 1908, because the name "Congregation of the Roman and Universal Inquisition" no longer fitted in with the times, St. Pius X changed it to the Congregation of the Holy Office, in the Constitution Sapienti consilio.
Its function today
Since charity casts out fear,[2] the safeguarding of the faith is better taken care of now by fulfilling the function of promoting sound doctrine. This will result in the correction of errors and at the same time will gently call back to the right path those who are going astray and will provide the heralds of the Gospel with new strength.
Furthermore, the advances of human progress, whose importance should not be neglected in religious matters, have produced a state of affairs in which the faithful will follow the lead of the Church more fully and lovingly if they see the reason for laws and definitions, insofar as the matter which is the object of faith and the nature of morals allow.
Therefore, so that this Sacred Congregation may carry on its role of promoting sound doctrine and the Church's zeal for the main duties of the Apostolate, and do so in a more fitting manner from now on, by Our Supreme Apostolic Authority We issue the following prescriptions changing its name and its regulations:
Change of title
1. What has until now been known as the Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office will in future be called the Congregation for the doctrine of the faith. Its function will be that of safeguarding doctrine of faith and morals throughout the universal Catholic world.
2. It is headed by the Supreme Pontiff, and is under the direction of a Cardinal Secretary, with the help of an Assessor, a Substitute, and a Promoter of Justice.
3. Hence all questions touching upon doctrine of faith and morals or connected with the faith pertain to it.
Consultation with regional bishops
4. It is to examine new doctrines and new opinions, no matter how they are made public, foster studies in this regard, and sponsor congresses of scholars; it is to condemn the doctrines and opinions that can be shown to be opposed to principles of the faith, but only after listening to the bishops of the given areas, if the matter concerns them.
Author's right of appeal
5. It is to carefully examine any books referred to it, condemning them if there be need of this, but only after having heard the author and having offered him the opportunity of defending himself—and this includes in writing—and only after having notified the Ordinary beforehand, as the Constitution Sollicita ac provida of Our Predecessor Benedict XV indicated.
6. It is also up to this Congregation to make decisions of law and fact about matters having to do with the privilege of the faith.
7. It is up to it to pass judgment on crimes against faith, according to the rules of ordinary judicial process.
8. It is to take action to safeguard the dignity of the sacrament of Penance, in accordance with its own rules as amended and approved; these will be communicated to the local Ordinaries, with the accused being granted an opportunity to defend himself or to choose an advocate from among those approved by the Congregation.
9. It is to foster suitable relationships with the Pontifical Biblical Commission.
Body of Consultors established
10. The Congregation is to have a body of Consultors who are chosen by the Supreme Pontiff from men throughout the world who are well-known for their learning, prudence and experience.
Experts, who are to be chosen especially from teachers at Universities, can be added to the Consultors whenever the matter being treated calls for this.
11. The Congregation has two sets of procedures; one administrative and the other judicial, depending on the different nature of the matters being treated.
Rules to be made public
12. The rules having to do with the internal operation of the Congregation are to be made public in a special Instruction issued for this purpose.
We command that everything decreed in this Letter that We have issued on Our own initiative be regarded as established and ratified, anything to the contrary notwithstanding.
Given at Rome, at St. Peter's, December 7th of the year 1965, the third of Our Pontificate.
POPE PAUL VI
Endnotes
1 Cf. AAS 55 (1963), p. 793 ff. [Ct. TPS IX, 160-167.].
2 1 Jn. 4, 18.
This item 719 digitally provided courtesy of CatholicCulture.org
