DECREE ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES OF THE EASTERN RITE

                           Orientalium Ecclesiarum
 
Promulgated by His Holiness, Pope Paul VI on November 21, 1964
 
 
Preamble
 
1. The Catholic Church holds in high esteem the institutions, liturgical
rites, ecclesiastical traditions and the established standards of the
Christian life of the Eastern Churches, for in them, distinguished as
they are for their venerable antiquity, there remains conspicuous the
tradition that has been handed down from the Apostles through the
Fathers[1] and that forms part of the divinely revealed and undivided
heritage of the universal Church. This Sacred Ecumenical Council,
therefore, in its care for the Eastern Churches which bear living witness
to this tradition, in order that they may flourish and with new apostolic
vigor execute the task entrusted to them, has determined to lay down a
number of principles, in addition to those which refer to the universal
Church; all else is remitted to the care of the Eastern synods and of the
Holy See.
 
 
THE INDIVIDUAL CHURCHES OR RITES
 
2. The Holy Catholic Church, which is the Mystical Body of Christ, is
made up of the faithful who are organically united in the Holy Spirit by
the same faith, the same sacraments and the same government and who,
combining together into various groups which are held together by a
hierarchy, form separate Churches or Rites. Between these there exists an
admirable bond of union, such that the variety within the Church in no
way harms its unity; rather it manifests it, for it is the mind of the
Catholic Church that each individual Church or Rite should retain its
traditions whole and entire and likewise that it should adapt its way of
life to the different needs of time and place.[2]
 
3. These individual Churches, whether of the East or the West, although
they differ somewhat among themselves in rite (to use the current
phrase), that is, in liturgy, ecclesiastical discipline, and spiritual
heritage, are, nevertheless, each as much as the others, entrusted to the
pastoral government of the Roman Pontiff, the divinely appointed
successor of St. Peter in primacy over the universal Church. They are
consequently of equal dignity, so that none of them is superior to the
others as regards rite and they enjoy the same rights and are under the
same obligations, also in respect of preaching the Gospel to the whole
world (cf. Mark 16, 15) under the guidance of the Roman Pontiff.
 
4. Means should be taken therefore in every part of the world for the
protection and advancement of all the individual Churches and, to this
end, there should be established parishes and a special hierarchy where
the spiritual good of the faithful demands it. The hierarchs of the
different individual Churches with jurisdiction in one and the same
territory should, by taking common
 
counsel in regular meetings, strive to promote unity of action and with
common endeavor to sustain common tasks, so as better to further the good
of religion and to safeguard more effectively the ordered way of life of
the clergy.[3]
 
All clerics and those aspiring to sacred Orders should be instructed in
the rites and especially in the practical norms that must be applied in
interritual questions. The laity, too, should be taught as part of its
catechetical education about rites and the}r rules.
 
Finally, each and every Catholic, as also the baptized of every
non-Catholic church or denomination who enters into the fullness of the
Catholic communion, must retain his own rite wherever he is, must cherish
it and observe it to the best of his ability[4], without prejudice to the
right in special cases of persons, communities or areas, of recourse to
the Apostolic See, which, as the supreme judge of interchurch relations,
will, acting itself or through other authorities, meet the needs of the
occasion in an ecumenical spirit, by the issuance of opportune
directives, decrees or rescripts.
 
 
PRESERVATION OF THE SPIRITUAL HERITAGE OF THE EASTERN CHURCHES
 
5. History, tradition and abundant ecclesiastical institutions bear
outstanding witness to the great merit owing to the Eastern Churches by
the universal Church.[5] The Sacred Council, therefore, not only accords
to this ecclesiastical and spiritual heritage the high regard which is
its due and rightful praise, but also unhesitatingly looks on it as the
heritage of the universal Church. For this reason it solemnly declares
that the Churches of the East, as much as those of the West, have a full
right and are in duty bound to rule themselves, each in accordance with
its own established disciplines, since all these are praiseworthy by
reason of their venerable antiquity, more harmonious with the character
of their faithful and more suited to the promotion of the good of souls.
 
6. All members of the Eastern Rite should know and be convinced that they
can and should always preserve their legitimate liturgical rite and their
established way of life, and that these may not be altered except to
obtain for themselves an organic improvement. All these, then, must be
observed by the members of the Eastern rites themselves. Besides, they
should attain to an ever greater knowledge and a more exact use of them,
and, if in their regard they have fallen short owing to contingencies of
times and persons, they should take steps to return to their ancestral
traditions.
 
Those who, by reason of their office or apostolic ministries, are in
frequent communication with the Eastern Churches or their faithful should
be instructed according as their office demands in the knowledge and
veneration of the rites, discipline, doctrine, history and character of
the members of the Eastern rites.[6] To enhance the efficacy of their
apostolate, Religious and associations of the Latin Rite working in
Eastern countries or among Eastern faithful are earnestly counseled to
found houses or even provinces of the Eastern rite, as far as this can be
done.[7]
 
 
EASTERN RITE PATRIARCHS
 
7. The patriarchate, as an institution, has existed in the Church from
the earliest times and was recognized by the first ecumenical
councils.[8]
 
By the name Eastern patriarch, is meant the bishop to whom belongs
jurisdiction over all bishops, not excepting metropolitans, clergy and
people of his own territory or rite, in accordance with canon law and
without prejudice to the primacy of the Roman Pontiff.[9]
 
Wherever an hierarch of any rite is appointed outside the territorial
bounds of the patriarchate, he remains attached to the hierarchy of the
patriarchate of that rite, in accordance with canon law.
 
8. Though some of the patriarchates of the Eastern Churches are of
earlier and some of later date, nonetheless all are equal in respect of
patriarchal dignity, without however prejudice to the legitimately
established precedence of honor.[10]
 
9. By the most ancient tradition of the Church the patriarchs of the
Eastern Churches are to be accorded special honor, seeing that each is
set over his patriarchate as father and head.
 
This Sacred Council, therefore, determines that their rights and
privileges should be re-established in accordance with the ancient
tradition of each of the Churches and the decrees of the ecumenical
councils.[11]
 
The rights and privileges in question are those that obtained in the time
of union between East and West; though they should be adapted somewhat to
modern conditions.
 
The patriarchs with their synods are the highest authority for all
business of the patriarchate, including the right of establishing new
eparchies and of nominating bishops of their rite within the territorial
bounds of the patriarchate, without prejudice to the inalienable right of
the Roman Pontiff to intervene in individual cases.
 
10. What has been said of patriarchs is valid also, in harmony with the
canon law, in respect to major archbishops, who rule the whole of some
individual church or rite.[12]
 
11. Seeing that the patriarchal office in the Eastern Church is a
traditional form of government, the Sacred Ecumenical Council ardently
desires that new patriarchates should be erected where there is need, to
be established either by an ecumenical council or by the Roman
Pontiff.[13]
 
 
THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENTS
 
12. The Sacred Ecumenical Council confirms and approves the ancient
discipline of the sacraments existing in the Oriental Churches, as also
the ritual practices connected with their celebration and administration
and ardently desires that this should be re-established if circumstances
warrant it.
 
13. The established practice in respect of the minister of Confirmation
that has obtained from most early times in the Eastern Church should be
fully restored. Therefore, priests validly confer this sacrament, using
chrism blessed by a patriarch or a bishop.[14]
 
14. All Eastern Rite priests, either in conjunction with Baptism or
separately from it, can confer this sacrament validly on all the faithful
of any rite including the Latin; licitly, however, only if the
regulations both of the common and the particular law are observed.[15]
 Priests, also, of Latin Rite, in accordance with the faculties they
enjoy in respect of the administration of this sacrament, validly
administer it also to the faithful of Eastern Churches; without prejudice
to the rite, observing in regard to licitness the regulations both of the
common and of the particular law.[16]
 
15. The faithful are bound to take part on Sundays and feast days in the
Divine Liturgy or, according to the regulations or custom of their own
rite, in the celebration of the Divine Office.[17] That the faithful may
be able more easily to fulfill their obligation, it is laid down that the
period of time within which the precept should be observed extends from
the Vespers of the vigil to the end of the Sunday or the feast day.[18]
 The faithful are earnestly exhorted to receive Holy Communion on these
days, and indeed more frequently yes, even daily.[19]
 
16. Owing to the fact that the faithful of the different individual
churches dwell intermingled with each other in the same area or Eastern
territory, the faculties for hearing confessions duly and without
restriction given to priests of any rite by their own hierarchs extend to
the whole territory of him who grants them and also to the places and
faithful of any other rite in the same territory, unless the hierarch of
the place has expressly excluded this for places of his rite.[20]
 
17. In order that the ancient established practice of the Sacrament of
Orders in the Eastern Churches may flourish again, this Sacred Council
ardently desires that the office of the permanent diaconate should, where
it has fallen into disuse, be restored.[21] The legislative authorities
of each individual church should decide about the subdiaconate and the
minor orders and the rights and obligations that attach to them.[22]
 
18. To obviate invalid marriages when Eastern Catholics marry baptized
Eastern non-Catholics and in order to promote fidelity in and the
sanctity of marriage, as well as peace within the family, the Sacred
Council determines that the canonical "form" for the celebration of these
marriages is of obligation only for liceity; for their validity the
presence of a sacred minister is sufficient, provided that other
prescriptions of law are observed.[23]
 
 
DIVINE WORSHIP
 
19. It belongs only to an ecumenical council or to the Apostolic See to
determine, transfer or suppress feast days common to all the Eastern
Churches. on the other hand, to determine, transfer or suppress the feast
days of any of the individual churches is within the competence not only
of the Apostolic See but also of the patriarchal or archiepiscopal synod,
due regard being had to the whole area and the other individual
churches.[24]
 
20. Until such time as all Christians are agreed on a fixed day for the
celebration of Easter, with a view meantime to promoting unity among the
Christians of the same area or nation, it is left to the patriarchs or
supreme authorities of a place to come to an agreement by the unanimous
consent and combined counsel of those affected to celebrate the feast of
Easter on the same Sunday.[25]
 
21. Individual faithful dwelling outside the area or territory of their
own rite may follow completely the established custom of the place where
they live as regards the law of the sacred seasons. In families of mixed
rite it is permissible to observe this law according to one and the same
rite.[26]
 
22. Eastern clerics and Religious should celebrate in accordance with the
prescriptions and traditions of their own established custom the Divine
Office, which from ancient times has been held in high honor in all
Eastern Churches.[27] The faithful too should follow the example of their
forebears and assist devoutly as occasion allows at the Divine Office.
 
23. It belongs to the patriarch with his synod, or to the supreme
authority of each church with the council of the hierarchs, to regulate
the use of languages in the sacred liturgical functions and, after
reference to the Apostolic See, of approving translations of texts into
the vernacular.[28]
 
 
RELATIONS WITH THE BRETHREN OF THE SEPARATED CHURCHES
 
24. The Eastern Churches in communion with the Apostolic See of Rome have
a special duty of promoting the unity of all Christians, especially
Eastern Christians, in accordance with the principles of the decree,
"About Ecumenism," of this Sacred Council, by prayer in the first place,
and by the example of their lives, by religious fidelity to the ancient
Eastern traditions, by a greater knowledge of each other, by
collaboration and a brotherly regard for objects and feelings.[29]
 
25. If any separated Eastern Christian should, under the guidance of the
grace of the Holy Spirit, join himself to the unity of Catholics, no more
should be required of him than what a bare profession of the Catholic
faith demands. Eastern clerics, seeing that a valid priesthood is
preserved among them, are permitted to exercise the Orders they possess
on joining the unity of the Catholic Church, in accordance with the
regulations established by the competent authority.[30]
 
26. Common participation in worship (communicatio in sacris) which harms
the unity of the Church or involves formal acceptance of error or the
danger of aberration in the faith, of scandal and indifferentism, is
forbidden by divine law.[31] On the other hand, pastoral experience shows
clearly that, as regards our Eastern brethren, there should be taken into
consideration the different cases of individuals, where neither the unity
of the Church is hurt nor are verified the dangers that must be avoided,
but where the needs of the salvation of souls and their spiritual good
are impelling motives. For that reason the Catholic Church has always
adopted and now adopts rather a mild policy, offering to all the means of
salvation and an example of charity among Christians, through
participation in the sacraments and in other sacred functions and things.
With this in mind, "lest because of the harshness of our judgment we be
an obstacle to those seeking salvation"[32] and in order more and more to
pr-)mote union with the Eastern Churches separated from us, the Sacred
Council lays down the following policy.
 
27. Without prejudice to the principles noted earlier, Eastern Christians
who are in fact separated in good faith from the Catholic Church, if they
ask of their own accord and have the right dispositions, may be admitted
to the sacraments of Penance, the Eucharist and the Anointing of the
Sick. Further, Catholics may ask for these same sacraments from those
non-Catholic ministers whose churches possess valid sacraments, as often
as necessity or a genuine spiritual benefit recommends such a course and
access to a Catholic priest is physically or morally impossible.[33]
 
28. Further, given the same principles, common participation by Catholics
with their Eastern separated brethren in sacred functions, things and
places is allowed for a just cause.[34]
 
29. This conciliatory policy with regard to "communicatio in sacris"
(participation in things sacred) with the brethren of the separated
Eastern Churches is put into the care and control of the local hierarchs,
in order that, by combined counsel among themselves and, if need be,
after consultation also with the hierarchs of the separated churches,
they may by timely and effective regulations and norms direct the
relations among Christians.
 
 
CONCLUSION
 
30. The Sacred Council feels great joy in the fruitful zealous
collaboration of the Eastern and the Western Catholic Churches and at the
same time declares: All these directives of law are laid down in view of
the present situation till such time as the Catholic Church and the
separated Eastern Churches come together into complete unity.
 
Meanwhile, however, all Christians, Eastern as well as Western, are
earnestly asked to pray to God fervently and assiduously, nay, indeed
daily, that, with the aid of the most holy Mother of God, all may become
one. Let them pray also that the strength and the consolation of the Holy
Spirit may descend copiously upon all those many Christians of whatsoever
church they be who endure suffering and deprivations for their unwavering
avowal of the name of Christ.
 
"Love one another with fraternal charity, anticipating one another with
honor". (Rom. 12, 10.)
 
Each and all these matters which are set forth in this decree have been
favorably voted on by the Fathers of the Council. And we, by the
apostolic authority given us by Christ and in union with the Fathers,
approve, decree and establish them in the Holy Spirit and command that
they be promulgated for the glory of God.
 
Given in Rome at St. Peter's, November 21, 1964
 
 
ENDNOTES
 
1. Leo XIII, Litt. Ap. Orientalium dignitas, 30 nov. 1894, in Leonis XlII
Acta, vol. XIV, pp. 201-202.
 
2. S. Leo IX, Litt. In terra pax-, an. 1053: ."Ut enim"; Innocentius III,
Synodus Lateranensis IV, an. 1215, cap. IV: " Licet Graccos"; Litt. Inter
quatuor, 2 aug. 1206: "Postulasti postmodum"; Innocentius IV, Ep. Cum de
cetero, 27 aug. 1247; Ep. Sub catholicae, 6 mart. 1254, proem.; Nicolaus
III, Instructio Istud est memoriale, 9 oct. 1278; Leo X, Litt. Ap.
Accepimus nuper, 18 maii 1521; Paulus III, Litt. Ap. Dudum, 23 dec. 1534;
Pius IV, Const. Romanus Pontifex, 16 febr. 1564,  5; Clemens VIII,
Const. Magnus Dominus, 23 dec. 1595,  10; Paulus V, Const. Solet
circumspecta, 10 dec. 1615,  3; Benedictus XIV, Ep. Enc. Demandatam, 24
dec. 1743,  3; Ep. Enc. Allatae sunt, 26 iun. 1755,  3, 6-19, 32; Pius
VI, Litt. Enc. Catholicae communionis, 24 maii 1787; Pius IX, Litt. In
suprema, 6 ian. 1848,  3; Litt. Ap. Ecclesiam Christ;, 26 nov. 1853;
Const. Romani Pontificis, 6 ian 1862; Leo XIII, Litt. Ap. Praeclara, 20
iun. 1894, n. 7; Litt. Ap. Orientalium dignitas, 30 nov. 1894, proem.;
etc.
 
3. Pius XII, Motu proprio Cleri sanctitati, 2 iun. 1957, can. 4.
 
4. Pius XII, Motu proprio Cleri sanctitati, 2 iun. 1957, can. 8: "sine
licentia Sedis Apostolicae", sequendo praxim saeculorum praecedentium;
item quoad baptizatos acatholicos in can. 11 habetur : "ritum quem
maluerint am plecti possunt"; in textu proposito disponitur modo positivo
observantia ritus pro omnibus et ubique terrarum.
 
5. Cfr. Leo XIII, Litt. Ap. Orientalium dignitas, 30 nov. 1894; Ep. Ap.
Praeclara gratulationis, 20 iun. 1894, et documenta in nota 2 allata.
 
6. Cfr. Benedictus XV, Motu proprio Orientis catholici, 15 oct. 1917;
Pius XI, Litt. Enc. Rerum orientalium, 8 sept. 1928, etc.
 
7. Praxis Ecclesiae catholicae temporibus Pii XI, Pii XII, Ioannis XXIII
motum hunc abunde demonstrat.
 
8. Cfr. Synodum Nicaenam I, can. 6; Constantinopolitanam I, can. 2 et 3;
Chalcedonensem, can. 28; can. 9; Constantinopolitanam IV, can. 17; can.
21; Lateranensem IV, can. 5; can. 30; Florentinam, Decr. pro. Graecis;
etc.
 
9. Cfr. Synodum Nicaenam I, can. 6; Constantinopolitanam I, can. 3;
Constantinopolitanam IV, can. 17; Pius XII, Motu proprio Cleri
sanctitati, can. 216,  2,1.
 
10. In Synodis Oecumenicis: Nicaena I, can. 6; Constantinopolitana I,
can. 3; Constantinopolitana IV, can. 21; Lateranensi IV, can. 5;
Florentina, decr. pro Graecis, 6 iul. 1439,  9. Cfr. Pius XII, Motu
proprio Cleri sanctitati, 2 iun. 1957, can. 219, etc.
 
11. Cfr. supra, nota 8.
 
12. Cfr. Synodum Ephesinam, can. 8; Clemens VII, Decet Romanum
Pontificem, 23 febr. 1596; Pius VII, Litt. Ap. In universalis Ecclesiae,
22 febr. 1807; Pius XII, Motu proprio Cleri sanctitati, 2 iun. 1957, can.
324-327; Syn. Carthaginen., an. 419, can. 17.
 
13. Syn. Carthaginen., an. 419, can. 17 et 57; Chalcedonensis, an. 451,
can. 12; S. Innocentius I, Litt. Et onus et honor, a. c. 415: "Nam quid
sciscitaris"; S. Nicolaus I, Litt. A d consulta vestra, 13 nov. 866: ."A
quo autem"; Innocentius III, Litt. Rex regum, 25 febr. 1204; Leo XII,
Const. Ap. Petrus Apostolorum Princeps, 15 aug. 1824; Leo XIII, Litt. Ap.
Christi Domini, an. 1895; Pius XII, Motu proprio Cleri sanctitati, 2 iun.
1957, can. 159.
 
14. Cfr. Innocentius IV, Ep. Sub catholicae, 6 mart. 1264;  3, n. 4;
Syn. Lugdunensis II, an. 1274 (professio fidei Michaelis Palaeologi
Gregorio X oblata); Eugenius IV, in Syn. Florentina, Const. Exsultate
Deo, 22 nov. 1439,  11; Clemens VIII, Jnstr. Sanctissimus, 3 1 aug. 1
595; Benedictus XIV, Const. Etsi pastoralis, 26 maii 1742,  II, n. 1,
III, n. 1, etc.; Synodus Laodicena, an. 347/381, can. 48; Syn. Sisen.
Armenorum, an. 1342; Synodus Libanen. Maronitarum, an. 1736, P. II, Cap.
III, n. 2, et aliae Synodi particulares.
 
15. Cfr. S.C.S. Officii, Instr. (ad Ep. Scepusien), an. 1783 ; S.C. de
Prop. Fide (pro Coptis), 15 mart. 1790, n. XIII; Decr. 6 oct. 1863, C, a;
S.C. pro Eccl. Orient., 1 maii 1948; S.C.S. Officii, resp. 22 apr. 1896
cum litt. 19 maii 1896.
 
16. CIC, can. 782, 4; S.C. pro Eccl. Orient., Decretum "de Sacramento
Confirmationis administrando etiam fidelibus orientalibus a presbyteris
latini ritus, qui hoc indulto gaudeant pro fidelibus sui ritus", 1 maii
1948.
 
17. Cfr. Syn. Laodicen., an. 347/381, can. 29; S. Nicephorus CP., cap.
14; Syn. Duinen. Armenorum, an. 719, can. 31; S. Theodorus Studita, sermo
21; S. Nicolaus I, Litt. Ad consulta vestra, 13 nov. 866: . In quorum
Apostolorum .; "Nos cupitis "; "Quod interrogatis"; "Praeterea
consulitis"; "Si die Dominico"; et Synodi particulares.
 
18. Novum quid, saltem ubi viget obligatio audiendi S. Liturgiam; ceterum
cohaeret diei liturgicae apud Onentales.
 
19. Cfr. Canones Apostolorum, 8 et 9; Syn. Antiochena, an. 341, can. 2;
Timotheus Alexar;drinus, interrogat. 3; Innocentius III, Const. Quia
divinae, 4 ian. 1215; et plurimae Synodi particulares Ecclesiarum
Orientalium recentiores.
 
20. Salva territorialitate iurisdictionis, canon providere intendit, in
bonum animarum, pluralitati iurisdictionis in eodem territorio.
 
21. Cfr. Syn. Nicaena I, can. 18; Syn. Neocaesarien., an. 314/ 325, can.
12; Syn. Sardicen., an. 343, can. 8; S. Leo M., Litt. Omnium quidem, 13
ian. 444; Syn. Chalcedonen., can. 6; Syn. Constantinopolitana IV, can.
23, 26; etc.
 
22.) Subdiaconatus consideratur apud Ecclesias Orientales plures Ordo
minor, sed Motu proprio Pii XII, Cleri sanctitati, ei praescribuntur
obligationes Ordinum maiorum. Canon proponit ut redeatur ad disciplinam
antiquam singularum Ecclesiarum quoad obligationes subdiaconorum, in
derogationem iuris communis "Cleri sanctitati".
 
23. Cfr. Pius XII, Motu proprio Crebrae allatae, 22 febr. 1949, can. 32,
 2, n. 5 (facultas patriarcharum dispensandi a forma); Pius XII, Motu
proprio Cleri sanctitati, 2 iun. 1957, can. 267 (facultas patriarcharum
sanandi in radice ); S.C.S. Offici et S.C. pro Eccl. Orient., an. 1957
concedunt facultatem dispensandi a forma et sanandi ob defectum formae
(ad quinquennium): "extra patriarchatus, Metropolitis, ceterisque
Ordinariis locorum... qui nullum habent Superiorem infra Sanctam Sedem "
 
24. Cfr. S. Leo M., Litt. Quod saepissime, 15 apr. 454: "Petitionem autem
"; S. Nicephorus CP., cap. 13; Syn. Sergii Patriarchae, 18 sept. 1596;
can. 17; Pius VI, Litt. Ap. Assueto paterne, 8 apr. 1775; etc.
 
25. Cfr. Syn. Vaticana II, Const. De Sacra Liturgia, 4 dec. 1963.
 
26. Cfr. Clemens VIII, Instr. Sanctissimus, 31 aug. 1595,  6: "Si ipsi
graeci"; S.C.S. Officii, 7 iun. 1673, ad 1 et 3; 13 mart. 1727, ad 1;
S.C. de Prop. Fide, Decret. 18 aug. 1913, art. 33; Decret. 14 aug. 1914,
art. 27; Decret. 27 mart. 1916, art. 14; S.C. pro Eccl. Orient., Decret.
1 mart. 1929, art. 36; Decret. 4 maii 1930, art. 41.
 
27. Cfr. Syn. Laodicen., 347/ 381, can. 18; Syn. Mar Issaci Chaldaeorum,
an. 410, can. 15; S. Nerses Glaien. Armenorum, an. 1166; Innocentius IV
Ep. Sub catholicae, 6 mart. 1254,  8; Benedictus XIV, Const. Etsi
pastoralis, 26 maii 1742,  7, n. 5; Inst. Eo quamvis tempore, 4 maii
1745,  42 ss.; et Synodi particulares recentiores : Armenorum (1911),
Coptorum (1898 ), Maronitarum (1736), Rumenorum (1872), Ruthenorum (1891)
, Syrorum (1888).
 
28. Ex traditione orientali.
 
29. Ex tenore Bullarum unionis singularum Ecclesiarum orientalium
catholicarum.
 
30. Obligatio synodalis quoad fratres seiunctos orientales et quoad omnes
Ordines cuiuscumque gradus tum iuris divini tum ecclesiastici.
 
31. Haec doctrina valet etiam in Ecclesiis seiunctis.
 
32. S. Basilius M., Epistula canortica ad Amphilochium, PG. 32, 669 B.
 
33. Fundamentum mitigationis consideratur: 1 ) validitas sacramentorum; 2
) bona fides et dispositio; 3) necessitas salutis aeternae; 4) absentia
sacerdotis proprii; 5) exclusio periculorum vitandorum et formalis
adhaesionis errori.
 
34. Agitur de s. d. "communicatione in sacris extrasacramentali".
Concilium est quod mitigationem concedit, servatis servandis.